Baby dormice found at reserve for first time

The countryside team at East Devon District Council said a male and female (pictured) were discovered in June during its monthly surveying

Baby dormice have been found at a nature reserve for the first time, conservationists have said.

The countryside team from East Devon District Council found the babies during their monthly survey of dormice boxes at Knapp Copse Local Nature Reserve in east Devon.

Teams have been surveying the site for 17 years.

Countryside manager James Chubb said they found five baby dormice, along with a "lactating female" in July and it was a "very exciting discovery".

Knapp Copse Local Nature Reserve is owned by Devon County Council and managed by the East Devon District Council countryside team

He said the pink babies "looked like tiny dormice equivalent of JellyBabies".

Mr Chubb said he planned to check the dormice later in August when they would be at the "dormice equivalent of teenage years".

He also said it was "really encouraging" to see the small animals doing well.

The People's Trust for Endangered Species said nationally the species had declined by 70% since 2000, with a total loss of the species from 20 English counties.

Mr Chubb added: "Fortunately, here in east Devon we have good dormouse populations and as long as woodlands, hedgerows and scrubby grounds are maintained and allowed to exist and treated carefully, dormice do particularly well in our county."