The Bund Naturschutz in Bayern (BN) has initiated a campaign urging the public to report sightings of the garden dormouse, a species threatened with extinction. As the calendar spring begins on Friday, warmer temperatures will likely coax these small dormice out of their nests over the coming weeks. The BN highlights the importance of these reports, having already received 12,000 sightings nationwide since launching their reporting portal in 2020, indicating widespread concern for this dwindling species.

In Bavaria, the garden dormouse is primarily found in specific areas, such as Frankenwald, Fichtelgebirge, and Steinwald, while smaller populations exist in the vineyards and orchards of the Bayerischer Untermain region. The BN emphasizes that each report from these areas will significantly aid their planning of conservation measures necessary for protecting the species. Additionally, the union stresses that even reports of dead dormice are valuable information for their conservation efforts.

As these dormice emerge with the warming weather, conservationists hope that increased public awareness and engagement will lead to more sightings and data collection. This collaborative effort highlights the growing trend of citizen science in wildlife conservation, where ordinary individuals play a crucial role in helping monitor and protect vulnerable species in their local environments.