Edible Dormouse
Edible Dormouse Facts
| Size | 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) |
| Speed | Unknown |
| Weight | 2.4-4.2 ounces (70-120 grams) |
| Lifespan | 6-9 years |
| Food | Beechnuts, acorns, hazelnuts, fruit, bark |
| Predators | Martens, domestic cats, owls |
| Habitat | Europe, Russia, Asia |
| Order | Rodents |
| Family | Dormice |
| Scientific name | Glis glis |
| Characteristics | Small rodent that hibernates for 7-8 months of the year |
Main Characteristics
Edible dormice are small rodents, roughly the size of a red squirrel. They spend most of the year in a burrow, as they hibernate for about seven to eight months, from October to May. Their most distinctive traits include large, button-like eyes and a fluffy tail.
Name
The edible dormice got their name because they were once considered a delicacy on Roman tables. Poor things! Even today, they are still regarded as a delicacy in some regions of Slovenia and Croatia.
Animal Family
Who is the edible dormouse more closely related to? A red squirrel or a mouse? While it may resemble a blend of both, it actually has its own family. This dormouse group includes animals like the hazel dormouse, desert dormouse and garden dormouse.
Distribution and Habitat
Edible dormice are found across Europe, Russia, and parts of Asia. They thrive in deciduous and mixed forests that feature mature oak and beech trees, as only the older specimens produce the fruits they rely on for food. Additionally, they often seek refuge in sheds, garages, attics, and even in holiday or farmhouses for rest and sleep.
Way of Life
Edible dormice are nocturnal and prefer to live alone. They spend their days sleeping and venture out at night to forage for food. Their climbing skills are impressive, allowing them to descend walls headfirst, thanks to their feet, which function like suction cups.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
The edible dormouse measures 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) in body length. Its bushy tail is 4.3-5.9 inches (11-15 cm). It typically weighs 2.4-4.2 ounces (70-120 grams), making it comparable in size and weight to a small red squirrel.
Fur
Edible dormice sport a grayish-blue fur, which appears slightly darker on the tail. Their hands and feet are hairless.
Whiskers
They possess long whiskers that assist them in sensing their surroundings.
Toes
Edible dormice have small, pointed claws that facilitate climbing.
Soles
The soles of their feet feature tiny, soft pads that remain slightly moist. These pads function like little suction cups, enabling them to grip various surfaces effectively. They can even walk upside down along a wall.
Tail
Edible dormice have a long, bushy tail that aids in maintaining their balance.
Diet
Edible dormice primarily herbivores. In the autumn, they consume a variety of fatty nuts and seeds, such as beech nuts, acorns, hazelnuts, and chestnuts, which help them build up the necessary fat for hibernation. During the summer months, their diet includes buds, bark, fruits, berries, mushrooms, and occasionally small insects, invertebrates, and eggs.
Hibernation
From October to May
Edible dormice take a long "nap" once a year, typically from October to May, which lasts about seven to eight months. They awaken from their hibernation when outdoor temperatures rise above 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).
Preparation
Before entering hibernation, edible dormice feast to prepare themselves. In the fall, they can weigh nearly double their normal weight, reaching up to 7 ounces (200 grams). For perspective, a typical adult man weighing 200 pounds (90 kg) would be equivalent to 400 pounds (181 kg). They rely on this extra weight to sustain them through the demanding hibernation period. By the time they wake up in May, they have lost about 35-50% of their body weight.
Burrow
To hibernate, edible dormice retreat to a burrow located 12-40 inches (30-100 cm) underground, where the ground remains frost-free. They line their burrow with leaves and moss and even stockpile some food for any mid-hibernation cravings.
During Hibernation
While hibernating, the body temperature of dormice drops to 37.4-41 degrees Fahrenheit (3-5 degrees Celsius), their heart rate slows to just 3-5 beats per minute, and they breathe only 1-3 times per minute.
Farmers' Saying
In German, the edible dormouse is called "Siebenschläfer“, which translates to "seven sleeper," because it hibernates for seven months each year. There is a saying that if it rains on the Seven Sleeper's Day, the rain will persist for seven weeks. Interestingly, it has no connection to the edible dormouse. Instead, it relates to a religious legend found in both Christianity and Islam known as "Seven Sleepers of Ephesus". According to the tale, seven brothers sought refuge in a cave from attackers, fell into a deep slumber, and awoke 195 years later on June 27th. This is why the day is referred to as the Day of the Seven Sleepers.
Behavior
Sounds
During the day, edible dormice rest in tree hollows or birdhouses. At night, they become active and produce a variety of sounds. They trill, whistle, murmur, squeak, and chirp - sometimes up to 100 times in a row. Their volume can be so high that they are occasionally mistaken for intruders when they wander into a house. When they sense danger, they rattle and growl.
Senses and Abilities
Senses
Edible dormice primarily rely on their sense of touch. They have long whiskers on their snouts that function like delicate antennas. Additionally, they possess excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell. Their eyes are adapted for low light conditions, being quite large to capture as much (moon)light as possible during the night.
Jumping
Edible dormice mainly inhabit trees and leap from branch to branch. They can jump distances of 10-13 feet (3-4 meters), comparable to red squirrels. Quite impressive for such small creatures! Their bushy tails not only help maintain balance but also act like a rudder, allowing them to change direction mid-air for a safe landing.
They Can Shed Their Tails
Yes, it’s true! If a predator grabs a dormouse by its tail, the dormouse can release the skin and fur of the tail to escape. The predator is left bewildered. What happens next? The exposed tail bones dry out and are either gnawed clean or eventually fall off. They do not regrow, but long hairs will develop at the base of the tail. The tail will then resemble its former self, just a bit shorter.
Volume
During mating season, males whistle to attract females. Their calls can be heard from up to 0.6 miles (one kilometer) away.
Life Expectancy
Despite being a small rodent, the dormouse has an unusually long lifespan, living up to 9 years. In contrast, red squirrels, field hamsters, and forest mice typically live only 2 to 3 years.
Predators and Threats
Natural Predators
Edible dormice fall prey to martens, owls, cats, weasels, and ferrets.
Human Impact
Edible dormice can only thrive in forests with mature oaks and beeches. The reason? Only trees that are at least 20 years old produce the fruits they rely on for food. Trees in rapidly growing "managed forests" are too young to bear fruit. Additionally, these less diverse forests often lack suitable shelter for them. Unfortunately, there are fewer old-growth forests and an increasing number of managed forests, primarily due to our growing demand for timber and the desire for quick processing.
How to Get Rid of Edible Dormice
Are Dormice Dangerous?
Edible dormice are not harmful. They are timid creatures that prefer to avoid humans. However, in rare instances, they can transmit diseases or trigger allergies through their droppings, urine, saliva, and fur. Therefore, it's advisable to handle them only while wearing gloves, which is also a good practice for most other wild animals.
Edible Dormice in the House
In the wild, edible dormice pose no threat. However, during winter, they may seek shelter in homes, where they can cause damage. They have a tendency to chew on wires, ruin furniture, and damage insulation and coverings. Additionally, they can be quite noisy.
What Repels Them
Scents such as vinegar, lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, mothballs, dish soap, and incense are said to deter edible dormice. However, these home remedies often provide only temporary relief. A more effective approach is to seal all openings in doors and windows as thoroughly as possible to prevent them from entering your home in the first place.
Dormice Are A Protected Species
Edible dormice are a protected species in Germany. This means they cannot be harmed or killed, and their habitats must not be destroyed.
Attracting and Capturing Dormice
You can attract edible dormice using fruits such as apples, pears, plums, grapes, and melons. They also enjoy nuts, peanut butter, as well as dried and ground meat. To capture them, a live trap is necessary, ensuring that the door does not reach the ground to prevent injury to their tails. It’s best to hire a specialist to catch the dormice, who will relocate them at least 12 miles (20 kilometers) away to a deciduous or mixed forest and release them in a suitable area.
Edible Dormice as Pets
Edible dormice are wild animals and are also protected by law. They cannot be kept as pets.
Importance to the Ecosystem
Edible dormice play a crucial role in the ecosystem by dispersing numerous seeds through their diet, which leads to the growth of new plants. Additionally, they serve as a vital food source for predators.
Reproduction
Mating Season
Edible dormice mate in June, roughly four weeks after emerging from hibernation. The gestation period lasts for 30 days.
Nesting
A potential ad for this creature might read, "Looking for a birdhouse to nest in". Edible dormice prefer to build their nests in sheds, attics, and beneath floorboards. They also happily occupy abandoned birdhouses, lining them with cozy materials like moss, leaves, grass blades, and animal fur. In forested areas, they often set up their nests in old woodpecker holes.
Babies
The young are born about four weeks later, with each litter typically containing 4 to 6 offspring. At birth, the babies are blind, hairless, and weigh only about 0.14 ounces (4 grams) (equivalent to a sugar cube). They open their eyes after 25 days and can start eating solid food after six weeks. By two months, they become independent.
The Edible Dormouse Is Related To:
- Hazel Dormouse
- Squirrel
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Badger
- Eurasian Jay
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Green Woodpecker
- Hedgehog
- Marten
- Microbat
- Mouse
- Red Fox
- Red Squirrel
- Wolf
Sources:
- „Body mass dependent use of hibernation: why not prolong the active season, if they can?“ (https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
- „Survival rates in a small hibernator, the edible dormouse: a comparison across Europe“ (https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
More Information:
- Edible dormouse-cam on the NABU Leverkusen website (German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union; opens a new browser tab)
Recommended Videos:
All About Hibernation
