Dormouse numbers on Exmoor and in many other parts of the country are in decline, so to help reverse this, CareMoor is launching its Winter Appeal to raise funds for 150 dormouse boxes at three woodland sites in Exmoor National Park.
Dormice are one of the world’s most ancient mammals, but sadly their numbers are in decline. So much so, CareMoor is launching a Winter Appeal. Philip Kiberd, CareMoor funding officer says: “We already have some dormouse boxes on Exmoor and know that they are being used, but over the years they become damp and we need to replace them and put up many more. To supply, install and monitor a dormouse box costs more than £20 and every penny helps, but all donations over £20 will receive an attractive ‘thank you’ card which could be sent to someone else if you’d like to make it a gift.”
Dormice are one of the world’s most ancient mammals and although their numbers have halved in the UK over the past 100 years, they are still be found on Exmoor, a nationally important habitat for the species. The boxes provide shelter and safe nest sites for summer breeding. Most mice have regular broods, but dormice (not actually a mouse, despite the name) live much longer, around 5 years, have smaller broods and usually only one a year. A pair of dormice will usually have a brood of 4 – 6 of which maybe only one or two will survive their first year to breed themselves, making the population very vulnerable.
Patrick Watts-Mabbott, volunteer and outreach officer at Exmoor National Park says: “The boxes also make monitoring the health and population of the dormice much easier, so if you would like to help us please donate what you can and give a dormouse a home this winter.”
If you’d like to donate to our Dormouse Appeal, you can do so online here or by cheque (payable to Exmoor National Park (CareMoor)) sent to Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset TA22 9HL or any of our three National Park Centres in Dulverton, Dunster and Lynmouth.
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