People’s Trust for Endangered Species, 3 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London SW84BGRegistered charity no 274206

Legislation for Dormice in England

& Wales

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/

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

• 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

It is an offence to intentionally:

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

• 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

W & C 1981 superseded by Habitat Regs.

It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly:

Species and Habitats Regs. 2010

• Sell, or have in possession any part of a Schedule 5,live or dead animal

It is an offence to:

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