Young hazel dormouse by Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
©Danny Green
Hazel dormouse
Scientific name: Muscardinus avellanarius
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!
Species information
Statistics
Length: 6-9cmTail: 5.7-6.8cm
Weight: 15-40g
Average lifespan: 5 years
Conservation status
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.
When to see
April to OctoberAbout
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.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.