Animal Name:
Hazel Dormouse

Scientific Name:
Muscardinus avellanarius

Short Fact:
Hazel dormice can spend up to around six months hibernating through the colder months.

Description:
The hazel dormouse is a small, golden-brown mammal with large black eyes and a furry tail. It is mainly nocturnal and spends much of its time climbing through shrubs and trees in search of food. Hazel dormice are particularly associated with ancient woodland, hedgerows and areas of dense vegetation.

Habitat:
Woodland, hedgerows, scrub and coppiced woodland.

Diet:
Omnivore — flowers, pollen, berries, nuts, fruits and insects.

Conservation Status:
Vulnerable in Great Britain and a species of conservation concern.

Fun Fact:
😴 Hazel dormice can enter torpor during cold or food-poor periods, slowing their metabolism to conserve energy. During winter, they hibernate in nests close to the ground.

UK Wildlife:
Yes 🇬🇧

Animal Group:
Mammal

Wild Youth Fact:
🌳 Hazel dormice have declined dramatically in Britain, largely because of the loss and fragmentation of suitable woodland and hedgerow habitat. Traditional woodland management, such as coppicing, can create the dense vegetation dormice need for feeding, nesting and moving through the landscape.