fluctuate, but may have increased in recent years.
Common Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius
The Dormouse was recorded in Epping Forest until 1943 (Corke and Harris, 1972). It is possible
that the species has been overlooked in recent years as it is not easily caught in Longworth traps, but,
as Corke and Harris (1972) state. Epping Forest has increasingly become high forest which is not an
ideal habitat for Dormice. Secondary woodland and scrub are the preferred habitats, and they also
occur in coppice and species-rich hedgerows (Corbet and Southern, 1977).
Fox Vulpes vulpes
Foxes are common in the Forest area, and have increased in recent years. They are sometimes seen
in the gardens of houses near the Forest, where they supplement their natural diet with scraps and dig
earths beneath garden sheds.
Stoat Mustela erminea
Stoats may be increasing due to rabbit numbers recovering after myxomatosis. Recent records
include Fairmead Bottom, EFCC grounds and near the lake in Knighton Wood.
Weasel Mustela nivalis
Frequently seen in the Forest. Recent records include near Goldings Hill Pond, the Ching brook,
near Connaught Water, Almshouse Plain, Hill Wood, Deershelter Plain, St. Thomas' Quarters and
EFCC grounds.
Ferret Mustela furo
Ferrets, presumably escapes, are occasionally seen. Recent sightings have been made at Paul's
Nursery near Earl's Path Pond, and an all-white individual at the High Beach reservoir.
Badger Meles meles
Recent sightings of badgers are rare, and it is unlikely that breeding setts occur within the Forest
boundaries. Road accidents have caused a number of badger mortalities in the Forest (Cowlin. 1972),
and one such casualty was recorded in 1988.
Feral Cat Felis catus
Feral cats occur in the Forest and may have a local impact on the ecology (A. Wheeler, pers. comm).
Red Deer Cervus elaphus
In recent years there have been very occasional records of Red Deer in the Forest area, particularly
in autumn during the rut. Such records are probably of deer wandering southwards from the edge of
their usual range in northern Essex (Chapman, 1977, and Corbet and Southern, 1977).
Fallow Deer Dama dama
The Fallow Deer of Epping Forest are well known for the fact that a high proportion of them are of
dark colouration (often described as 'black' Fallow Deer). The annual January counts of Fallow Deer
suggest that numbers have increased from the low totals of the mid-1980s (although such counts
include deer from outside the Forest boundaries). Fallow Deer numbers in the Forest itself fluctuate
with deer movements. Many are injured or killed on the roads each year. Recent records include from
Sunshine Plain. St. Thomas' Quarters, Lower Forest, Deer Shelter Plain, Long Running, Hangboy's
Slade, Rushey Plain, Little Monk Wood and Galleyhill wood.
Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi
Muntjac Deer have expanded their range considerably in recent years, and there have now been
sightings in many areas of the Forest, although they are more frequent in the northern half than in the
south. Examples of such sightings include St. Thomas' Quarters, Almshouse Plain, Jacks Hill Road.
Galley Hill, EFCC grounds, near Connaught Water and Little Monk Wood.
Historic Records
There are a few species for which there are no recent records and which are known to be extinct in
the Forest. The species involved with their last known sighting is given below. Polecat (Mustela
putorius) c. 1880; Pine Martin (Martes martes) c. 1883; Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) c. 1923 and
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) c. 1958.
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