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Hazel dormouse

Young hazel dormouse by Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Hazel dormouse

©Danny Green

Hazel dormouse

Hazel dormice are hard to spot – not only do they only come out at night, but they are also only found in very few places in the UK. Dormice spend a lot of their time hibernating – and are known to snore!

Scientific name

Muscardinus avellanarius

When to see

April to October

Species information

Statistics

Length: 6-9cm
Tail: 5.7-6.8cm
Weight: 15-40g
Average lifespan: 5 years
Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. Listed as a European Protected Species under Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive.

Habitats

About

Dormice are barely ever seen due to the fact they spend most of the day asleep! At night they come alive, climbing high into the trees on the hunt for a tasty snack. Their favourite foods are hazelnuts, berries and insects. Dormice build nests out of grass and leaves ready for the female to give birth to up to seven young. In autumn, dormice start looking for the perfect spot to hibernate for winter. They often choose to sleep in logs or leaves at the base of trees or just beneath the ground where they can avoid the winter cold.

How to identify

The hazel dormouse has gingery-brown fur, large black eyes and a long, fluffy tail; it is much smaller than a squirrel.

Distribution

Mainly found in southern England and Wales.

In our area

Dormice are widespread across Surrey but now largely confined to small pockets of habitat, with only a few known strongholds. The hedgerows and woodlands that Dormice use to shelter, breed, feed and sleep have suffered widespread mismanagement and loss across our county. Sadly, Dormice numbers are estimated to have fallen by more than half since 2000 across the UK, with new research suggesting the protected Dormice species should be classified as “endangered”, according to the University of Exeter.

Did you know?

Hazel dormice, like many of our other small animals, hibernate through the winter months in order to survive. If food is scarce outside of hibernation season, they can save energy by dropping their body temperature and going into a state of 'torpor'. In fact, dormice can spend nearly three-quarters of the year 'asleep' in some form!

Dormice are widespread across Surrey but now largely confined to small pockets of habitat, with only a few known strongholds. The hedgerows and woodlands that Dormice use to shelter, breed, feed and sleep have suffered widespread mismanagement and loss across our county. Sadly, Dormice numbers are estimated to have fallen by more than half since 2000 across the UK, with new research suggesting the protected Dormice species should be classified as “endangered”, according to the University of Exeter.