Britain's "Beatrix Potter" dormouse vulnerable to extinction: researchers

It's one of the most loved creatures from the famous Beatrix Potter children's stories, but sadly, a study released Friday reveals the number of hazel dormice in Britain has fallen by a third since 2000.

The rate of decline, equivalent to 55 percent over 25 years, means the loveable little creature has disappeared completely from 17 English counties, with a warning that the dormouse is now vulnerable to extinction in Britain.

The decline of Britain's native hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) has been revealed in a new report published Friday by the wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) at the National Dormouse Conference.

Once a familiar sight throughout much of England and Wales, over the past 100 years, dormice have suffered from the loss of woodlands and hedgerows, as well as changes to farming and woodland management practices, said PTES its report. As a result, the species is now rare and vulnerable to extinction, it warns.

Ian White, dormouse officer at PTES said Friday: "Dormice have been around for 40 million years, but their future in Britain is now precarious and there's a pressing need for action to ensure their long-term survival."

Dormice populations, said PTES, are also vulnerable to climatic changes, in particular wetter springs and summers, when foraging for food becomes harder, and when warmer winter temperatures interrupt successful hibernation.

PTES has a three-pronged approach to reversing the decline in dormice, which includes: recording dormice, providing training and guidance for woodland managers and landowners, and a reintroduction program.

A trust spokesperson said: "Between 1993 and 2016, PTES has managed 26 dormouse reintroductions at 22 sites in 12 counties with 864 animals released; 21 of the reintroductions have shown indications of success, such as breeding or dispersal to new areas beyond the site."

The report was released at the National Dormouse Conference, managed by PTES, which opened Friday at the University of Reading and continues Saturday.

Beatrix Potter kept a dormouse called Xarifa as a pet. The dormouse was so prolific in Victorian times that school children would trade them in the playground.

In Britain, people can be fined up to 6,700 U.S. dollars, or face six months in prison, for disturbing, injuring, or killing a hazel dormouse or damaging or destroying its habitat. Endit