Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Tiny dormouse presses snooze button ahead of mating mission
THESE adorable pictures shows a tiny dormouse catching some sleep – before embarking on a mating mission to set up a new colony.
The creature is among a fivestrong litter that has just emerged from their winter hibernation.
Born to parents Daisy and Diago, the only baby male was pictured getting some much-needed rest ahead of a move across the country.
He is being joined on the move to a facility in Kent by a newborn female pup from the same litter.
A spokesperson for the Wildwood Escot in Devon, which bred them, said: “We established a facility for the rescue, rehabilitation and breeding of dormice in 2019.
“Almost immediately we took on two rescues brought to us by local people, one of which was saved from the jaws of a cat.
“Neither would have survived release back to the wild so they were cared for by our keepers and brought back to full health.
“Following the recommendation of the national breeding group, the pair (now named Daisy and Diego) were introduced to each other and a healthy litter of five pups – four female and one male – followed in July 2020. From this group the male and one female were recently sent to our park in Kent.
“From there, on review of the national captive population, they will either find their way to other breeding centres or be released to support the wild population.”
The spokesperson said the pictures were taken when its keeper team completed its first box check of the season since the dormice went into hibernation for the winter.
They added: “Delighted to see them living up to their name as they slowly emerge from their winter snooze.”