An adorable wood mouse ©Frank Vassen The hazel dormouse is a native of European forests and it packs quite the magical punch in its little frame. Its nocturnal nature and choice of hidden homes have put the tiny rodent under a shroud bestowed by its very community, often described as invisible—but it couldn’t carry out such remarkable footprints in an intricate system if not for this ignored diminutive life-form.
These animals are mostly arboreal and spend their time foraging around the intricate web of branches, twigs and leaves in trees, bushes or shrubs. Their name comes from their favorite food, the hazel tree. The hazel dormouse is famous for weaving a spherical nest in the fork of branches made out of leaves and moss.
Wild diet is mostly herbivorous consuming wide range of fruits, nuts and seeds supplemented by insects. This diet evolved growing them to become important seed dispersers, helping regenerate and keep forests. The Victorian treatment is to hibernate, a biological strategy that can help hazel dormice save energy in the face of winter.
And now the hazel dormouse has had its existence challenged by multiple threats. The most immediate obstacles are habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change. The loss of hedgerows and woodlands along with more intensive use of the land have reduced habitat availability for these creatures.
Resource: Conservation efforts have been started to address these immediate threats and provide a long-term future for the hazel dormouse. To ensure protection of these lovely animals, strategies such as hedgerow planting, wildlife corridors creation and sustainable woodland management practices are adopted.
The hazel dormouse — a reminder of the careful balance our ecosystems can achieve. As we understand and cherish these species, it will help in protecting them which is a key towards increasing our biodiversity for the future generations.