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
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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
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W & C 1981 superseded by Habitat Regs.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