dormice

Dormice are small, nocturnal rodents in the family Gliridae. They occur across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, occupying woodlands, hedgerows, and scrub. The best known species are the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and the edible dormouse (Glis glis).

They have soft fur, large eyes, rounded ears, and a long tail. They are mainly arboreal, using branches and dense vegetation for travel and foraging, and they build leaf- and grass-lined nests in tree hollows or dense shrubs. Dormice are nocturnal and spend much of the year in a state of torpor or hibernation, sometimes for many months in winter, depending on climate.

Diet consists largely of plant material—fruits, seeds, nuts, buds, and leaves—with insects taken opportunistically. They often cache food to eat later. Reproduction is seasonal; mating occurs in spring, followed by relatively small litters of young. Multiple litters per year occur in favorable conditions. Growth is rapid, and juveniles reach independence after a few weeks.

Conservation status varies by species and region. Some dormice populations are thriving, while others have declined due to habitat loss, management practices, and climate change. They are protected by law in parts of their range, and monitoring programs exist in several countries.