Dormouse

Facts
Scientific Name: 
Muscardinus avellanarius
Weight : 
15-26g , up to 43g before winter hibernation
Life Span: 
up to 5 years
Information
Description : 

A small orange colured mammal which is declining in Britain. It is nocturnal and spends its entire life in the trees feeding on insects fruits and nuts. There are thought to be 80,000 dormice left in the UK.

Distribution : 

Mostly the southern counties but a few isolated populations in the Lake District.

Habitat : 

Ancient Hedgegrows and woodland.Mostly in Hazel trees.

Predators : 

Possibly Owls.

Reproduction : 

It constructs a ball like nest usually hidden amond ivy or Honeysuckle.

Status : 

80,000 in UK

Did You Know?: 

Dormice spend a lot of their life asleep!

Footprint Description: 

Fore foot has 4 digital pads, hind foot 5. Circular configuration of 6 interdigital pads on forefoot. Hindfoot has one interdigital pad, with 4 lobes. Hand outlines quite common where tracks are visible.

Footprint Size: 

fore foot - 1x0.8cm, hind foot 1.5x1.1cm. Stride around 7cm.