Devon SSSI nature reserve and eco lodges - Maggie's Blog
1 April
Dormouse summer nest...
Last weekend it was time to clean out the nest boxes before the dormice wake up for the summer (about May probably). This is one of last year's nests. This year I hope to work towards a handling licence for these protected creatures. I've done the theory course, now I need to do the handling part. Luckily one of Devon's dormice experts, Jan Whittington, has her monitoring programme fairly close by, so I should be able to get the experience I need by going along on her monthly checks.
We have only 2 boxes at the moment - it's on the to do list to make some more. We have room for the 30 required to join the national monitoring scheme so that's my aim.
our other dormouse posts:
How do I know it's a dormouse nest? Well the box is completely filled up - but more importantly the entrance hole is turned to the trunk, leaving only a small gap for the dormouse to enter. It's woven, and it's too high in the tree to be a woodmouse, so I'm pretty certain.
Meanwhile, the primroses are coming out. Yes, I know they're not exactly early - on sunny banks and especially in the microclimate of Devon's deep lanes, they've been out for weeks. But these are in the wood, and I like to watch out for them.