Dormice reintroduced at Bradgate Park to boost population
"We're hopeful that by autumn, the dormice will have settled into the woodland," he added. "If we start to see litters later this year, it will mark the beginning of their return. "It's a big day for the county, as dormice haven't been seen here for a very long time."
Volunteers will monitor the dormice daily over a 10-day period, topping up food and water while the animals adjust to their new surroundings.During this time, the dormice will remain in mesh enclosures before being released to forage for themselves.As they settle in, they are expected to begin breeding and dispersing into surrounding woodland and hedgerows. Volunteer Hazel Edwards, who helped prepare the site, said: "A couple of weeks ago we started setting up large open cages in the woods so the dormice would acclimatise."From today, we'll feed and care for them daily. The cages are filled with fresh hazel twigs, water, and food. "After about 10 days, we'll open the cages, and they'll move into nesting boxes we've placed nearby. Hopefully, those will become their forever homes."Mr White added the reintroduction formed "part of a long-term effort" to bring the species back to Leicestershire.He said: "It took 100 years for numbers to fall - restoring them will take just as long."
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