Volunteers go nuts (From Western Telegraph)

Volunteers go nuts

1:03pm Sunday 11th November 2007 in

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Volunteers will be going nuts this autumn, looking for signs of one of Wales' rarest and most elusive mammals.

Community groups and volunteers are being drafted for a bit of detective work in woodlands and hedgerows.

Like many other small mammals, dormice eat hazelnuts and leave the shell with very distinctive marks.With a little bit of practice, anyone can learn to identify which nuts have been opened by dormice.

Dr Lizzie Wilberforce, officer for the Wildlife Trust of south and west Wales, said: "Dormice have an undeniable appeal. They are one of our most attractive native mammals, yet sadly they have faced population decline, a result of fragmentation of their broadleaf woodlands in the environment and changes to woodland management.

"Many organisations are working hard to increase dormouse populations, but it would be a huge help to increase our knowledge of where populations are surviving, populations we may not know about at present.

"I really hope anyone with an interest in dormice will get involved in this survey and help us find out as much as we can about where they are living."

For a survey pack, go to www.biodiversitywales.org.uk or www.welshwildlife.

org, or ring Sarah Mellor on 01656 643667.