Garden dormouse

Eliomys quercinus

Family

Dormice (Gliridae)

Distribution

Garden dormice are native rodents. They live in structurally rich forests with dead wood, hedges, and settlement areas. In Switzerland, garden dormice are common in the Jura and the Alps, but are nowadays absent from the Central Plateau. They are only found in Europe.

Lifestyle

Garden dormice are mainly nocturnal and usually live alone, defending their territory against other members of their species. Sometimes, however, they also live in small groups. They build several nests, for example in tree hollows, rock crevices or under roots, which they can change quickly in case of danger. Thanks to their strong legs and grippy soles, they are skillful climbers and can even scale house facades. Unlike many other dormice, however, they often stay on the ground. Their long tail helps them to keep their balance at all times. Garden dormice hibernate in sheltered hiding places from October to April.

Reproduction

In April, directly after hibernation, the male looks for a partner. Females signal their readiness to mate with loud whistles. After a gestation period of around 23 days, four to six babies are born in a spherical nest in June. The female takes care of the pups alone. They leave the nest for the first time after around 30 days and become independent after around five weeks. Males become sexually mature after the first hibernation and females sometimes only after the second.

Food

Garden dormice feed mainly on animal food (insects, spiders, snails, bird eggs and young birds), but in the fall they also eat seeds, buds, fruit and berries. In urban areas, for example, they also help themselves to bird food. Before hibernating, they eat a layer of fat that keeps them warm and serves as an energy reserve.

The garden dormouse in Langenberg

The garden dormice have lived together with the house mice and rats in the Müsli-Hüsli since 2025. There they live in a room set up as a garage with an outdoor aviary.