2023Fauna - Dormouse - A - Set

The European edible (or fat) dormouse is a nocturnal rodent and excellent climber that spends most of its active time in treetops. During the day it sleeps in the karst underground, in tree hollows or in the nesting boxes of birds. It hibernates in winter (in the karst underground or in tunnels beneath the roots of large trees). Dormice in Slovenia begin hibernating with the first frost and wake up in April. During hibernation they lose between 35% and 50% of their bodyweight. They mainly feed on fruits and seeds, occasionally also eating fungi and animal food (including insects and small vertebrates). They are known to gnaw bark. In the conditions prevailing in Slovenia, the success of hibernation is probably dependent on the amount of fruit produced by oak, beech and hornbeam trees. A plentiful supply of acorns, beechnuts and hornbeam nuts allow dormice to build up a sufficient quantity of subcutaneous fat. They do not store food. Female dormice have one litter a year but the birthing period lasts the whole summer. The lifespan of the edible dormouse is up to five years. Young animals not yet sexually active form the bulk of the population.