Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
This exceptional footage of a young dormouse was captured by Matt Parkins and his team in Fingle Woods, Devon. The dormouse, which had left its maternal nest in the early summer, was beginning its life as an independent juvenile and looking to establish a new home range.
Even though this young dormouse had spent three days building a nest, it was not the first to sleep in it. One morning, another dormouse entered the nest and slept there for twelve hours. Soon after that, the nest builder returned and used the nest quite regularly until it left for the final time - hibernation was calling. This instinct to build nests with great skill is one of the incredible attributes of this amazing little mammal.
Video credits to Matt Parkins. To find out more about Matt's project visit our website ptes.org/grants/uk-mammal-projects/investigating-how-woodland-management-affects-dormice/.
This exceptional footage of a young dormouse was captured by Matt Parkins and his team in Fingle Woods, Devon. The dormouse, which had left its maternal nest in the early summer, was beginning its life as an independent juvenile and looking to establish a new home range.
Even though this young dormouse had spent three days building a nest, it was not the first to sleep in it. One morning, another dormouse entered the nest and slept there for twelve hours. Soon after that, the nest builder returned and used the nest quite regularly until it left for the final time - hibernation was calling. This instinct to build nests with great skill is one of the incredible attributes of this amazing little mammal.
Video credits to Matt Parkins. To find out more about Matt's project visit our website ptes.org/grants/uk-mammal-projects/investigating-how-woodland-management-affects-dormice/.
