Dormice

The boxes are checked once a month from April to October between 15th and 26th of each month. The data is then sent to the Dormouse Monitoring Scheme where it is analysed along with data from sites throughout the UK. This helps to ascertain the overall success of the species.  Thanks to Dai Jermyn, David Fowler and Rob Morgan for their dedication to monitoring these sites.

Two of these sites have only been monitored for a year or two but hazel dormice are already using the new boxes.  In fact, the Crychan site had a magnificent count of 34 Hazel Dormice over 50 boxes in October.  One box contained 10 very active Dormice and it was literally quite a handful to individually sex and weigh them.  They were all returned to the box safely.

As you may have seen on WTSWW's social media channels, evidence of dormice has also been seen in Pwll y Wrach Nature Reserve this year.

An individual was found in a box earlier in the year and WTSWW's Wildlife Trust Officer, Pauline Hill spotted some dormouse nibbled nuts last month on one of the footpaths.  

They seem to have enjoyed the late warm weather seems with good numbers of juveniles at a reasonable size as the weather turns colder.  

….and Deer!

At the other end of Brecknock, On WTSWW's Cae Pwll Bo Nature Reserve, near Aberqwesyn some deer poos had been seen. This was confirmed when warden Jen put out a Trail Camera and saw this little Roe Deer Fawn.  She also got pictures of a male Roe Deer, Badger and Fox as well as Grey Squirrel passing by the reserve.

(Please note that our Wildlife Trust Brecknock volunteers are all licensed to monitor and handle the dormice.)