IVth International Conference on Dormice (Rodentia, Gliridae)

REINTRODUCTION OF EDIBLE DORMOUSE (GLIS GLIS) IN SIERAKOWSKI LANDSCAPE PARK (POLAND)

Jurczyszyn, M., Rybak, M. & Syska, J.

Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznan, Poland, e-mail: jurc@main.amu.edu.pl

Edible dormouse (Glis glis) is very rare species in north-western Poland. Only three localities of the species are known in this part of the country. One locality is situated in Sierakowski Landscape Park(~30,000 ha), in the reserve “Buki nad Jeziorem Lutomskim” (~55 ha). The above mentioned reserve is mainly overgrown by old beech wood and is isolated by lake, town, fields and pine woods from other (larger) beech woods occurring in the landscape park.

Program of reintroduction of edible dormouse in Sierakowski Landscape Park (SLP) has started in 1997. The aim was to reintroduce dormice to beech, oak and mixed forests of SLP where they have become extinct.

Six dormice (3 males and 3 females), caught in the reserve “Buki nad Jeziorem Lutomskim” during late summer of 1997, were raised in aviaries in order of reproduction. During late summer of 1998 this group of raised dormice (4 adults and 9 young animals which were born in captivity) and the group of “wild” dormice (6 males and 6 females caught in summer of 1998) were released in deciduous forest (5 km distant from the reserve “Buki nad Jeziorem Lutomskim”). Before release all the dormice (25 individuals) were acclimated during 1 – 2 weeks to the novel site.

During night investigation made in June of 1999 we found active edible dormice in the place of their release.

Next stages of reintroduction of edible dormouse in SLP are planned in 1999 - 2001.

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