Dormouse found in Ireland

THE common dormouse, made famous through the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, has been found in Ireland and is being treated as a non-native species. 

There have been confirmed sightings of 14 individuals in a relatively small, 30sq km area near Newbridge and Naas, Co Kildare. The dormice appear to be thriving, according the latest publication of environment proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).

Dormice are now very scarce and endangered so they are protected under the EU Habitats directive. They are found in parts of England and other European countries, but were not known to be here until recently.