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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
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- - 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
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- - 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
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- - 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.

Home // Key species and habitats // Hazel dormice // Surveying and monitoring hazel dormice // Hazel dormice footprint tunnels

Hazel dormice footprint tunnels

Footprint tunnels

There have been various attempts investigating the use of footprint tunnels as a potential way of detecting dormice such as this poster on using Tetra pak tracking tubes to detect dormice seen at the 2014 International Dormouse Conference.

PTES funded a project by Suffolk Wildlife Trust to look at the viability of using footprint tunnels as a new survey methodology. An article discussing the project, the result and recommendations was published in the CIEEM magazine.

The differences in the detection rates varies between months with highest detection rates between May-October. Analysis of the data revealed that if 50 footprint tunnels are deployed for any consecutive three months between May to October, the probability of detecting dormice, even in habitats where they may occur at low population densities, is 97.5%.

Recommendations for professional practice

The recommended survey effort for ecological professionals is to put up 50 footprint tunnels, in any habitat type and check them fortnightly for three consecutive months between May and October (in addition the tunnels should be put up two weeks before the survey starts to account for neophobia).

Footprint tunnels will only show whether dormice are present, they will not give any indication of population densities. Once dormice have been detected, the survey can stop and dormouse population densities calculated as given in the Hazel Dormouse Mitigation Handbook P23 Sec 3.6.

Please record both positive and negative results on the Dormouse Footprint Tunnel Survey form.

Recommendations for conservation projects

Footprint tunnels provide greater certainty of detection of hazel dormice in hedgerow and scrub habitats and are more likely to achieve positive results within a shorter timescale, when compared with nest tubes and nest boxes.

If a demonstration of likely absence is not strictly necessary, any number of tunnels (in multiples of five) can be used for any number of months from May to October to try to detect dormice. Suggested levels of survey effort are given in surveying in different habitats.

The level of survey effort, along with an assessment of the broad habitat type and whether dormice were detected or not, should be recorded on the Dormouse Footprint Tunnel Survey form.

There is detailed guidance on setting up a footprint tunnel survey in the Hazel Dormouse Conservation Handbook and practical guidance is available in Guidance for Surveying for Hazel Dormice using Footprint Tunnels.

hazel-dormouse-footprints-Simone-BullionPTES

Advantages of footprint tunnels

A non-invasive survey technique which does not require a licence as the chance of disturbing dormice is very low.
Compared with nest tube surveys, footprint tunnels can reduce the survey period required.
The cost of the materials compares well with nest tubes.
The tunnels are heavier and bulkier than nest tubes and if access to the survey location is only by foot, then fewer can be carried at any time.
Footprint tunnels are also an ideal survey method in areas of high public disturbance because should the tunnel be investigated; a dormouse is highly unlikely to be present.
Although dormice footprints can be very faint and hard to spot, the identification of dormouse nests in nest tubes can also be difficult.

We have been working to save hazel dormice in the UK for over 20 years. Find out about our campaigns and how you can help.

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