dormouse

Presentation

The gray dormouse (Glis glis) is a small arboreal rodent of the Gliridae family, recognizable by its gray fur and its long bushy tail reminiscent of that of a squirrel. It is famous for its long hibernation, which can last up to seven months a year. Present mainly in Europe, it frequents deciduous forests, orchards and sometimes the attics of rural homes. Its nocturnal and discreet lifestyle makes it rarely observed despite a sometimes significant local presence.

The dormouse measures between 13 and 19 cm long, to which is added a bushy tail almost equal to the body length. Its fur is ash gray above and whitish underneath, with large black eyes adapted to night life. Its legs have short but effective claws for climbing trees.

Characteristics

Indicative values: they vary by subspecies, sex and region.

Habitat and distribution

The dormouse lives mainly in deciduous forests, orchards and hedgerows where it finds hollow trees and fruits in abundance. It readily settles in attics, barns and attics of rural homes, especially when seeking winter shelter. It avoids areas that are too open, preferring environments offering dense plant cover.

Behaviour

The dormouse is a solitary and strictly nocturnal animal, active especially at nightfall. It spends a large part of the year in deep hibernation, generally from October to April, taking refuge in a burrow, a hollow trunk or an attic. An excellent climber, it moves easily through branches in search of food. It can emit high-pitched cries when disturbed or during the breeding season.

Reproduction

Reproduction of dormouse takes place in spring, shortly after awakening from hibernation. The female gives birth to a single litter of 2 to 9 young after a gestation of approximately one month. The young are weaned after four to six weeks and reach sexual maturity the following year.

Peculiarities

The dormouse is named for its exceptionally long hibernation behavior among mammals, which gave rise to the popular expression "sleeping like an dormouse." Its relative longevity for a small rodent, which can reach several years, is partly explained by this seasonal metabolic slowdown.

Threats and conservation

dormouse is not globally threatened and remains widespread throughout its range. Locally, the disappearance of old cavity trees and forest fragmentation can reduce its refuge sites. It is sometimes considered harmful when it establishes itself in homes, which can lead to targeted destruction measures.

References

Profile updated 22 August 2026 · Reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team.