Volunteers begin dormouse footprint surveys at Bere Marsh Farm after appeal success

Volunteers have begun training at Bere Marsh Farm to help survey one of the UK’s most elusive mammals, the hazel dormouse. 

Our conservation team has started preparing volunteers to carry out dormouse footprint surveys across the farm from May to September, helping us build a clearer picture of local dormouse populations and the habitats they depend on. 

Recently, Ruth Moss, our conservation officer, met with volunteers at the farm to demonstrate how to set up and monitor footprint tunnels, as well as identify the best locations for them within dense shrub and hedgerow habitats. 

Thanks to our winter dormice appeal 

This work forms part of our dormice appeal, which raised £6,000 last winter to help us better understand dormouse presence across our farms and improve their habitats. 

The tunnels are positioned around 15 to 20 metres apart and checked every two weeks over several months during the dormouse active season. 

They capture footprints as dormice pass through, offering a non-invasive monitoring method that volunteers can check without needing a licence.  

How do the tunnels work? 

The tunnels themselves are simple but highly effective. They are usually made from 400mm lengths of square black downpipe, with a plywood tracking plate inserted inside. At each end are small landing platforms, while a strip of white card is attached to the insert using double-sided tape. 

An ink mixture made from charcoal and vegetable oil is applied to the tracking area. When a dormouse walks through the tunnel, it steps across the ink pad and leaves footprints on the paper, which can then be examined and identified. 

The tunnels are secured horizontally beneath branches in dense shrub areas. Because dormice are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their lives in trees and shrubs, they naturally move through these routes while feeding and foraging. 

Ruth, who led the work at Bere Marsh Farm recently, said: “The tunnels will be surveyed every two weeks over four consecutive months between May and October, providing a very high chance of detection if dormice are present.  

“Each tunnel captures footprints as dormice pass through, offering a reliable, non-invasive monitoring method. Volunteers can help check them without needing a dormouse licence. 

“When we have identified where they are living, we can carefully plan our habitat management to allow them to thrive.” 

Ruth has trained the volunteers to differentiate between hazel dormouse footprints and those of other small mammals. 

She said: “Hazel dormouse footprints are very unique. Their footprints are small, about 1cm wide, with a rounded shape and they have distinctive triangular pads on their feet. The toe pads look similar to the pieces of pie in the Trivial Pursuit game. Footprints of wood mice and yellow-necked mice are composed of little spots rather than triangles.” 

Ruth will soon be training our volunteer at Babers Farm, also in Dorset, to monitor footprint tunnels there too. 

• Volunteer with the CRT and get hands-on with conservation work 

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Published: May, 2026.