Legislation for Dormice in England & Wales

People’s Trust for Endangered Species, 3 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London SW84BG Registered charity no 274206

Legislation for Dormice in England and Wales • International distribution • International status • UK Status • Dormice and the Law • Dormice Licencing

Range of dormouse in Europe

IUCN Red list • Category: Least Concern (assessed 2008) • “Relatively common and widespread species across it’s range. In northern parts of it range populations are declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Here there is cause for concern” • Population trend: Unknown http://www.iucnredlist.org

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UK Status of the Hazel • Few known populations in Wales • In England – extinct in up to 7 counties (comprising half its former range) in the past 100 years.

– absent from the north, except for small populations in Cumbria and Northumberland, – widespread in southern counties but patchily distributed.

Current UK status of dormice

• There has been a significant downward trend detected from 1993–2002 • Declined in all areas except southern England, where populations appear to be stable.

• The greatest change has been observed at the edge of the species current range. in Britain.

UK Mammals: Species Status and Population Trends 2005 TMA

• UK BAP trend – declining slowly

The State of Britain's Mammals 2011 PTEST

Dormouse trend analysis 2009

Dormice and the law Hazel dormice and their habitat are protected by: • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 • CROW Act 2000 • The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 • Conservation of Habitat and Species Regulations 2010

Wildlife and Countryside Act It is an offence to intentionally: • Capture, injure or kill a Schedule 5 or European Protected Species i.e. dormouse • Disturb (i.e. impair their ability to breed, hibernate or significantly affect the local population) • Damage or destroy breeding or nesting site

Crow Act 2000 • Countryside and Rights of Way Act • Amends the law relating to nature conservation and wildlife protection • Strengthens current wildlife enforcement legislation • Amends “intentional” in W&C Act to “intentional or reckless”

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 • Created by NE • Made duty to conserve biodiversity a legal requirement for public bodies • Dormouse is BAP species so planning authority has to consider effect of any development on this species

Species and Habitats Regs. 2010 W & C 1981 superseded by Habitat Regs. It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly: • Disturb a dormouse while it is occupying a structure or place that the dormouse uses for shelter or protection • Obstructs access to any structure or place that the dormouse uses for shelter or protection

Species and Habitats Regs. 2010 It is an offence to: • Sell, or have in possession any part of a Schedule 5,live or dead animal Prohibits certain methods of taking or killing all species of dormice

Trapping and disposing of Glis glis requires a licence

When is a Dormice licence required from NE or NRW?

‘ Disturbance’ license: • Presence of dormice unknown – Nest tubes, nest boxes can be checked without licence • Presence of dormice known – Nest tubes, nest boxes require licence to check ‘Mitigation’ license: • Any works causing the loss of dormouse breeding site or resting place

People’s Trust for Endangered Species, 3 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London SW8 4BG Registered charity no 274206