Main Menu

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.

Basket Search

Donate

PTES News Basket Search

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 // Understanding dormouse hibernation

Understanding dormouse hibernation

Hazel-dormouse-in-Briddlesford-Woods---Isle-of-Wight.jpg-credit-Clare-Pengelly

Planning for future dormouse conservation in the face of climate change

This project has now finished

The problem

Animals that hibernate are particularly vulnerable when they wake up. They are likely to have used up their energy reserves and need to find food quickly. Hibernating animals often use weather cues as a guide to the best time to become active. Fluctuations in weather patterns, caused by climate change, are affecting hibernators worldwide, with warmer winters causing some hibernators to wake up earlier or more frequently than normal, when there is little food available.

mat-unsplash-snowy-woodland-Understanding-dormouse-hibernation — Hibernating animals often use weather cues as a guide to the best time to become active. Image credit Mat Reding

Kate-Merrylowres-understanding-dormouse-hibernating — Hibernating animals often use weather cues as a guide to the best time to become active. Image credit Mat Reding

This project, led by the Universities of Cumbria and Glasgow, aims to uncover the cues hazel dormice use to time their entrances and exits from hibernation. This knowledge would help us to plan for future dormouse conservation in the face of climate change.

The solution

A torpid hazel dormouse sits in the hand of a licence handler. Video credit Emily Marnham

Rachel Findlay-Robinson and her team will fit small temperature loggers inside natural dormouse hibernation nests to measure how often dormice are waking up from hibernation, and whether they are leaving the nests during winter.

At the same time, they will measure microclimatic data, such as temperature, humidity and topography, near these hibernation nests. Dormouse temperature and activity patterns will be analysed taking into account both large-scale weather data and small-scale microclimate data.

By looking at both the larger and smaller pictures, Rachel hopes to determine if and how climatic variation affects dormouse hibernation patterns. We can then use this information to produce management guidelines for woodland owners. The guidance will provide advice on how to help create suitable winter habitats for dormice to ensure that more of them are able to survive erratic winters in the future.

This project is only possible thanks to our generous donors. Can you help by donating today?

Donate now