THE FAT DORMOUSE (GLIS GLIS) IN GAUJA NATIONAL PARK – THE MOST NORTHEN LOCALITY WITHIN THE SPECIES ’ DISTRIBUTION RANGE?

This study aimed to summarize and reevaluate Fat Dormouse (Glis glis) records in Latvia and in Gauja National Park in particular. Data were collected during the 1990s mainly by inquiry, including personal communications and some field surveys, as part of data collection for both the Latvian Mammal Atlas and Latvian Red Data Book. Results obtained were compared with the limited published data about distribution of the Fat Dormouse in the 19th and 20th centu-ries. Although historically and recently Glis has been recorded in various parts of the country, its current distribution is assumed to be restricted to two river valleys in central Latvia. Each valley probably contains a separate micro-population of the Fat Dormouse. The status of re-cords from outside these areas is discussed: they could represent either vagrant specimens or undiscovered micro-populations, or most likely, misidentified animals. Available written sources suggest that the Gauja River valley is currently the most northern (57°20’N) part of the range of the Fat Dormouse. The very rare encounters with Glis and the small number of ani-mals observed suggest that both micro-populations are very scattered