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Mammal✓ Protected species

Dormouse

Glis glis

✓What to do NOW

  1. 1A dormouse found outside hibernation in winter (October–April) is in serious trouble
  2. 2Pick up with gloves — it bites when frightened
  3. 3Dark box with few holes, soft cloth on the bottom
  4. 4Temperature: 18–20°C in winter (do not overheat — it interferes with hibernation)
  5. 5Do not offer food if it seems drowsy: it is hibernating, do not force it to wake
  6. 6Contact CRAS for guidance on hibernation management

✗NEVER do this

  • ✗Do not wake it during hibernation: the effort of waking up consumes fat reserves and can kill it
  • ✗Do not put in warm places in winter: the dormouse must complete hibernation
  • ✗Do not feed with salted nuts or human food

⚠ Important note

The dormouse is one of the few Italian mammals that truly hibernates (October–April). A dormouse awake in winter has exhausted or never accumulated fat reserves: nutritional emergency. In summer, dormice found during the day are almost always injured. The hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius, much smaller) is a vulnerable species — handle with even greater care.

⚖ Legal protection

The dormouse is protected by Law 157/1992 and the Habitats Directive (Appendix III, Berne Convention).

Also known as

edible dormousefat dormousehazel dormousecommon dormouse

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