The Hazel dormouse (or just dormouse) is one of the hardest little mammals to spot. This is because they are nocturnal, spend most of their time up in the canopy and they hibernate a lot of the year… I mean a lot!

The name dormouse is derived from the 17th century french word dormeuse meaning “sleeper” and it’s well deserved. The hazel dormouse not only hibernates through the colder months of the year, if the food is scarce during other times of the year it can put itself in a state of torpor (a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy) until conditions are better. They can spend nearly ¾ of the year asleep like this.

They are also tiny! Dormice grow to between 6cm - 9cm! He could easily lay in the palm of your hand with room to spare.

When these sleepy little rodents do finally wake up, normally in the summer months, they spend most of their time climbing about in the canopy at the top of deciduous forest, hedgerow and dense scrub. Dormice are omnivores and will eat berries, flowers, fruits, insects, and nuts.

They’re also a protect species 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.

This is for good reason because the hazel dormouse has been in decline and is nearing extinction in the UK. Changes in woodland management, farming and the loss of hedgerows are having a massive impact on the population. However there are people who are helping. See the People’s Trust for Endangered Species website for thing you can do to help!