Britain’s hazel dormice may be showing signs of recovery after decades of decline, according to new figures indicating that warmer summers are helping more of the animals survive.
The findings offer a rare positive development for the small, nocturnal mammals, which have experienced a prolonged fall in numbers. They suggest that recent summer conditions may be improving survival, although the supplied figures do not specify the scale of the change.
Hazel dormice are known for their long periods of sleep, including hibernation, and the latest indication points to a possible improvement in their fortunes. The link identified in the figures is between warmer summers and increased survival.
The information available does not provide further details about the number of dormice recorded, the locations covered or how long any recovery may have continued. It therefore remains unclear how widespread the improvement is, but the figures provide a glimmer of good news for a species that has declined for many years.