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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

One donation, twice the impact. From the 18th – 25th April your donation to protect ancient woodland will be doubled through the Big Give.

Home // Research grants // Our UK mammal projects // Detecting hazel dormice

Detecting hazel dormice

On the hunt for one of our rarest mammals

The elusive hazel dormouse is at risk of extinction in the UK so finding out where they are is the first crucial step to saving those that are left.

This project has now finished

The problem

There are currently several methods used to survey for hazel dormice including nest tubes, nest boxes, nut searching and nest searching. However, dormice can still be difficult to detect and it is not clear which method or combination of methods works best in different habitat types.

The solution

hazel dormouse footprints Simone Bullion This project with Suffolk Wildlife Trust will compare the existing survey methods and trial a new method involving footprint tunnels. This method potentially has the advantage of being used without a special survey licence and may also be more suitable in areas where there is a risk of public disturbance.

Simone and Alison at SWT will survey 12 sites in Suffolk using 50 nest tubes, nest boxes and footprint tunnels at each site between April and November. We will also carry out nut searching and nest searching at each site. We are surveying in a range of different habitat types including scrub, woodland and hedgerows, including managed and unmanaged habitats. By the end of the project we hope to find out which method or combination of methods is most effective at detecting dormice in each habitat type.

If the new footprint tunnels prove to be an effective at detecting dormice we will produce best practice guidelines on how these should be deployed for other conservationists to use across England and Wales.

This vital knowledge will help us get one step closer to saving, and boosting, dormice populations in the UK.