Dormouse squirrel at home. Dormouse animals
One of the oldest rodents is the dormouse - an animal that has much in common with squirrels and mice at the same time. The features of its structure depend on the lifestyle and habitat. Life expectancy in nature ranges from 2 to 6 years.
Appearance
Sonya are small in size. Their body is slightly elongated, and round shiny eyes stand out on a narrow head with a pointed muzzle. The ears are quite large, bare, with rounded tips.
On the dormouse's face there are very sensitive long whiskers - vibrissae. Their length is about 20 to 40 percent of the total body length. Each antennae can move due to contraction of the subcutaneous muscles. This is a peculiar way with the help of which the animal probes the space around it. The limbs are thin and short, with four toes on the front legs and five on the hind legs. The animal's thick and very soft fur is short and uniform throughout the body.
Habitats
Dormouse is an animal that prefers to live most often in trees, in hollows, sometimes in earthen burrows, often dug under the roots of trees, under stones and in rock crevices. These animals live mainly in forests, gardens and groves.
Lifestyle and nutrition
Most representatives of this family sleep during daylight hours, and only at dusk do they emerge from their shelters. Thanks to this feature they got their name. With the onset of cold weather, dormice fall into torpor and can spend the entire winter in this state. During this period, their body temperature drops and their metabolism slows down. Some animals wake up during the thaw period, eating their stored food during a break from sleep. Others do not make reserves and survive the winter due to the fat accumulated over the summer and autumn.
The basis of the diet of these animals consists of plant fruits and various seeds, and less often insects. They also do not refuse eggs and young chicks on occasion. It is interesting to watch how the dormouse eats (a photo of the animal engaged in this process is posted in this article). Holding the food firmly with her front paws, the dormouse brings it to her mouth. These animals may well become tame, but only if caught in at a young age. The main thing that is not recommended to do is touch them with your hands. Sony doesn't like this very much.
Types of dormouse
In the territory European countries There are 4 genera of these animals - hazel, forest, garden and dormouse. In total, the dormouse family has 9 genera and 28 species. They mainly inhabit the northern part of Africa, Japan, and China. They are also found in Altai and
The hazel dormouse is the cutest of all rodents, and the smallest animal among the representatives of this family. Its body length is 7-8 cm. The animal differs from its relatives in its yellowish-red color. Young women have a particularly bright coat color. hazel dormouse. The rodent got its name due to its habitat, a prerequisite for which is the presence of dense thickets of hazel, rose hips, viburnum and other shrubs. It is an arboreal species that rarely descends to the ground. Thanks to its tenacious legs, it moves very deftly and quickly along trunks and branches.
garden dormouse- a larger animal (up to 14 cm), with a very unique color. Top part the body and abdomen are white. The eyes are surrounded by black rings, giving the muzzle a very smart and expressive look. Although garden dormice mainly live in deciduous forests of mountainous areas, they are often found in coniferous forests, penetrating further north than other representatives of this family. Prefers to settle in gardens, near human habitation.
Dormouse is one of the largest. Its size can sometimes reach 19 cm. The fur of this animal is very thick, the back is dark in color, the sides are lighter, and the belly and inner surface of the legs are silvery-white. The eyes are surrounded by a brown ring. The tail is covered with thick fur and decorated with a white longitudinal stripe at the bottom. Of all the rodents, perhaps the most voracious is this dormouse (see photo of the animal below).
She will eat as long as she is able to do so. Its diet is based on acorns and nuts, but it often exhibits predatory tendencies when the wolf attacks smaller animals, destroys nests, and eats chicks.
The forest dormouse has much in common with the regiment. She has the same fluffy tail, which fluffs up if the animal gets angry. The gray-brown color of the coat is more reminiscent of a garden dormouse. Only in individuals living in the southern regions is it brighter - the neck is yellow-orange in color and spots of the same color are located on the cheeks of the animal. The body length is 11 cm, the tail is about the same.
Hazel Dormouse, or the Muscardinus avellanarius (lat. Muscardinus avellanarius) is a mammal of the dormouse family of the order of rodents.
In the deciduous forests of Europe and northern Turkey, you can often find very pretty rodents that resemble squirrels - hazel dormouse. The animals got their name thanks to their constant love for hazel fruits and daytime sleep in cozy nests. They also feed on a variety of seeds and berries.
It is worth noting that it is very possible to check the presence of these rodents in a particular area. in a simple way: To do this, you should find a hazel nut, gnawed in a manner characteristic of hazel dormouse. They place their houses in hollow trees or on the branches of bushes. Hazel dormouse spend the winter hibernating in nests underground.
Hazel Dormouse- an animal that resembles a miniature squirrel. It is the size of a mouse: body length 15 cm, body weight 15-25 g. This is one of the smallest dormouse. The tail is long, 6-7.7 cm, with a tassel at the end.
The muzzle is slightly blunt; ears are small, rounded; the mustache is long, up to 40% of the body length. Hazel dormouse is the most woody look among dormouse, which is expressed in the structure of their limbs. 4 fingers of the hand are almost the same length; The first toe is smaller than the others and is perpendicular to them. When moving along the branches, the hands turn to the sides almost at a right angle.
The color of the upper body of the hazel dormouse is buffy-red, sometimes with a reddish tint; the lower side is lighter with a fawn tint. There may be light, almost white spots on the throat, chest and belly. Fingers are white. The tip of the tail is dark or, conversely, light, depigmented.
Hazel Dormouse lives in deciduous and mixed forests, settling in places with rich undergrowth and undergrowth of hazel, rosehip, euonymus, rowan, bird cherry, viburnum and other fruit and berry trees and bushes, which provides the animals with a food supply (in particular, alternation of ripening food) and good protective conditions.
It can be found along forest or country roads, along the edges of clearings, in overgrown clearings. In the mountains it rises up to 2000 m above sea level. In the Yaroslavl and Vladimir regions, dormice prefer deciduous forests with a predominance of linden, ash, and oak. In the Volga region, hazel dormouse can also be found in coniferous forests with a rich admixture of deciduous and broad-leaved species.
The hazel dormouse lives primarily in the undergrowth, skillfully climbing bushes, even the thinnest and most flexible branches. Active from dusk until morning.
The nest is located on a branch at a height of 1-2 m above the ground or in a low-lying hollow. Dormouse also willingly occupies birdhouses, titmouses, and nest boxes, regardless of whether the house is already occupied by birds or not. Redstarts and pied flycatchers suffer more from dormouse, and great tits and blue tits, which are capable of repelling this small rodent, suffer to a lesser extent.
The hazel dormouse's food diet consists mainly of seeds of tree and shrub species (nuts, acorns, chestnuts, beech, linden nuts) and a variety of berries and fruits.
The hazel dormouse's favorite food is hazel nuts. In early spring, the animal uses young shoots and buds for food. According to some sources, there is no animal food in his diet; According to others, it is believed that the hazel dormouse attacks small passerine birds and destroys egg clutches. The dormouse avoids foods high in cellulose because it lacks a cecum where cellulose is digested.
These animals are easily tamed and can even bear offspring in captivity.
Sonya is not only a characteristic of a person who loves to sleep, it is also the name of a cute animal, which begs the adjective “kawaii”. As a pet in Lately Sonya confidently pushes aside such stars as chinchilla or dwarf. We will try to understand the peculiarities of keeping this rodent.
What does it look like?
The family Dormouse or Dormice (Gliridae) belongs to the order of rodents. These are mostly small animals, but the body length of the largest species can reach 20 cm. Their tail, as a rule, is slightly shorter than the body. Some species lead a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle; they are distinguished by a half-naked or naked tail and are very similar in appearance to ordinary mice. Species that prefer life in trees have bushy tails and resemble in appearance. Sometimes these animals are called rat squirrels, but they are completely different from rats. These small rodents are distributed over wide areas. They can be found in Europe, northern Africa, Malaya and Central Asia, V Altai mountains, in Japan. There is also a South African species. 
Did you know? The Japanese dormouse is the tiniest in the dormouse family (body size up to 8 cm, weighs about 20 g) and has the ability to run upside down along branches. Feeds mainly on nectar and pollen.
Hazel
Of all the dormouse species, this species is best suited for life in trees. The body length of the animal reaches 15 cm, the tail is fluffy, with a tassel at the end. The animal's fur is red, with an ocher or reddish tint. It is lighter underneath and has a fawn tint. The hazel dormouse prefers deciduous and mixed forests. She usually makes several nests on branches or in hollows. He likes to capture birdhouses, and can expel the birds that occupy them. The diet consists of plant foods: hazelnuts, chestnuts, acorns, beech and linden nuts, berries and fruits. In autumn, when the air temperature drops to +15 °C, the hazel dormouse goes into hibernation, from which it awakens in April or May.
Sadovaya
This type of dormouse can be identified by its pointed muzzle. The length of the animal's body reaches 16 cm. It has a fluffy tail with a tassel at the end, the fur on the upper part of the body is gray or brown, white below, and there is a black stripe from eye to ear. Favorite places The habitats of the garden dormouse are old gardens, parks and deciduous forests. This type It is omnivorous; its representatives, along with a variety of fruits and berries, eat insects, small rodents, chicks, and bird eggs. They prefer to make nests on branches or in tree hollows. Hibernation lasts 5–6 months.
Lesnaya
Externally, this species is similar to the garden dormouse, but is smaller in size. The body length of an adult does not exceed 12 cm. The tail is fluffy, the color of the upper part of the body is brownish or gray, the lower part is light gray or white. The head is decorated with a strip of dark fur that runs from the nose to the ear. The forest dormouse settles in deciduous or mixed forests, making homes in hollows, on branches, and in abandoned bird nests. The animal is omnivorous; in addition to plant foods, such as various fruits, nuts, etc., it feeds on insects, destroys bird nests, eating eggs and even chicks. In autumn, hibernation begins, from which the animal emerges at the end of April or May.
Polchok
This species is the largest of all dormouse. It can be mistaken for a small squirrel. The body of the animal can reach 20 cm in length, its tail is fluffy, slightly long. smaller sizes bodies. The fur on top can be gray or gray-brown in color, while below the color changes to light gray or white. Dark rings may appear around the eyes. Dormouse loves deciduous and mixed forests. Prefers areas of the forest where there are many wild fruit trees and shrubs with edible fruits (hazelnut, hawthorn, honeysuckle, etc.). As a rule, nests are made in hollows. Sometimes it can build a nest among stones or under fallen trees. It often settles in birdhouses, driving birds out of them. The shelf feeds exclusively on plant foods - fruits, seeds, berries. It goes into hibernation in the fall, awakening only in May, or even in June.
Did you know? Aristotle described the dormouse and the garden dormouse. He called these animals “eleos,” which can be translated from ancient Greek as “beautiful” or “graceful.”
Features of home maintenance
The necessary conditions
A spacious cage, or even better, an aviary, is suitable for keeping this animal. If the size of the enclosure allows, then you can create elements of a natural landscape in it: line the bottom with moss, place thick branches inside, or even plant fruit bushes in pots. It is necessary to take care of the conditions for hibernation of the animal in advance - put a path in the form of a piece of pipe into the prepared hole.
Important! The cage or enclosure where the animals are kept must be cleaned daily. Disinfection must be carried out periodically. Without these procedures, animals may get sick, and the cage will become a source of unpleasant odor.
Requirements for the cage and its placement
The minimum dimensions of a cage suitable for keeping a dormouse are 50x30x30 cm. It must be made entirely of metal, otherwise a rodent will easily damage it. The best cage shape is rectangular, which is easier to clean. The cage needs to be equipped with an automatic drinking bowl, a feeding trough, and it is advisable to install a running wheel. Sawdust can be used as a filler. When placing a cage with these rodents, it should be taken into account that they are very active at night and the noise they make can interfere with people's sleep. In addition, the cage should be in a place well illuminated by daylight, but it should not be exposed to direct Sun rays. Cannot be placed next to each other electrical devices and heating devices. 
Feeding your pet
The basis of the diet of domestic dormice is plant foods. These are various fruits, nuts, cereals, grains. Animal food should be given periodically: eggs, cottage cheese, boiled meat, insects. Among insects, animals prefer mealworms. Animals eat often and in large quantities, this can even lead to unwanted obesity. However, on the eve of hibernation, extra fat will not hurt the animals.
Caring for dormice is not difficult; you just need to clean the cage every day and feed and water the animals on time. The animals are in good health, but they can also get sick. Signs of the disease are the animal’s refusal to eat, unkempt fur, and apathy. In this case, you need to show your pet to a veterinarian.Reproduction of dormouse
The reproductive instinct of dormice awakens in the spring, immediately after hibernation ends. Females bear children for 3–4 weeks. From 2 to 10 cubs are born. The feeding period lasts approximately 3 weeks. 
Important! Already at the age of 1 month, the cubs become sexually mature; at this age it is better to remove them from their parents. Otherwise, uncontrolled reproduction of animals may begin.
Sonya at home: pros and cons
In favor home care Sonya says their good looks and simple rules of care. The disadvantages include a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, the need for daily cleaning of the cage, and hibernation. As we have seen, the dormouse is quite easy to keep as a pet. These cuties can be a good alternative to such “stars” of zoo corners as chinchillas.
Nowadays, even the most fanciful breeds of dogs and cats do not cause much surprise, but domesticated wild animals still remain a curiosity. So, in Novosibirsk, the squirrel Sonya became a local celebrity - especially after a news story was filmed about her.
Some families adopt wild animals, consciously preparing for the choice - they first read a lot of information about the future pet, and then buy it at a pet store or at a bird market. For the family that sheltered Sonya, the situation looked completely different: either they take the baby squirrel home and try to get him out, or he dies a slow death from starvation. The fact is that Sonya, at the age of only one and a half months, fell out of the nest, and for some reason her mother did not take her back. The baby had no chance of surviving on her own: she was still feeding on milk and did not know how to get food for herself.
Squirrel Sonya is such a “reverse Mowgli,” jokes the owner of the little squirrel, Elena Ermakova. Now this once wild animal can be considered a domestic animal - the squirrel fits perfectly into the family’s life, it even has its own shelf in the refrigerator where cedar cones are stored “in reserve.” Moreover, Sonya loves to sit on Elena's shoulder and does not mind a harness with a leash. So, sitting on her shoulder, Sonya goes out into the street, where she immediately attracts the attention of all passers-by and children playing in the local playground. Sonya likes to run through the trees, but according to Elena, the animal never runs away.
Interestingly, the squirrel Sonya responds to her name - just like a pet. But at the same time, it has also retained the instincts of life in the wild: for example, the squirrel constantly stores and hides seeds, nuts and cones in the most unexpected places, from the pockets of sweaters and outerwear to flower pots. If Sonya happens to meet other squirrels, she is in no hurry to share her supplies with them. Now for her, family is people.
Of course, keeping such an unusual animal is associated with various difficulties: these are the already mentioned “nut stash,” and the desire to gnaw on everything that comes across, and incredible mobility. But for the owner, Sonya is still the best in the world. "Watch for domestic squirrel“, - says Elena, “it’s a pleasure: no other pet brings so much joy.” And at the same time, she does not advise taking such a pet home without unnecessary need.
About a month before I started preparing this material, I did a small experiment: I posted on my VKontakte wall several photographs of hazel dormouse found on the Internet. In less than 24 hours, I received dozens of “hearts,” requests to “add me as a friend,” enthusiastic comments and messages: “oh, who is this?”, “how cute!”, “is this your little animal?”, “is this by chance?” Isn’t it photoshop?”, “I want one for myself,” etc. In addition to the general emotion and idle curiosity, there were also sensible questions: what kind of animal is this, where does it live, is it possible to keep such a creature at home, and I realized that the article would be written not in vain, especially since some representatives of the dormouse family are successfully kept in captivity. So, dear readers, welcome to this little sleepy kingdom - the kingdom of cute, charming sleepyheads!
Sonya is not called Sonya for nothing. Firstly, because it is predominantly nocturnal. Secondly, for long hibernation in the cold season: in some species of these rodents it lasts up to 6-7 months.
Dormouse family
All species of this family (dormouse) are distinguished by uniformity in the structure of all organ systems. Even with a quick acquaintance with these animals, it can be noted that they are characterized by large dark eyes, rounded, very mobile ears, very long and thick whiskers, soft fluffy hair covering the body and a relatively long tail. These animals live in trees or in the branches of bushes, but some dormouse (in particular, garden dormouse) spend a lot of time on the ground. Selected species Dormouses cause harm to gardens and berry gardens, but they are not as numerous and prolific as mice and rats, are not found in all regions and are not positioned as dangerous pests and enemies of humans. In the territory modern Russia There are 4 types of dormouse: hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus), forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula) and dormouse (Glis glis). Pretty, funny, good-natured, beautiful, interesting to watch, quite unpretentious, long-living - all these epithets perfectly characterize the dormouse. Indeed, the dormouse lives from 3 (minimum) to 6 years and even longer - naturally, if the animal is healthy and properly maintained. For comparison: small decorative rodents (mice, hamsters, rats) live 2-3 years. Grasping pink paws with tiny claws, a mobile fluffy tail, unique grace in movements, an expressive face, amusing manners of holding food in its paws and constantly cleaning its fur - and this is also about the dormouse. Why are they so rarely found in our homes? According to the famous biologist A.I. Rakhmanov, dormice are little known and unpopular among animal lovers because they are very rarely sold on sale, and in nature they are active only at night.
However, when kept in a cage, dormice change their night mode to twilight and even daytime, adapting to the daily routine of their owners. They are friendly in nature, playful, adorable and have every right to be called one of the most interesting and enjoyable pets. To get a dormouse, you will have to catch it yourself (which is extremely difficult, or rather, almost impossible for an untrained person), or contact a breeder who breeds and sells these cute pets. But there are a number of other nuances and difficulties that will make the future owner of a dormouse think twice before deciding to place this cute animal at home. To find out about them, read this article carefully.
In appearance, dormice resemble squirrels. These animals have a nocturnal type of vision, but dormouse see perfectly well during the day. The fur of all dormouse is very thick and fluffy, especially that of dormouse (in former times it was even used in the fur industry); males and females do not differ in fur color. Besides acute vision and excellent sense of touch, dormouse is endowed with other adaptations for living among trees and bushes. The animals are able to deftly crawl through narrow vertical cracks in tree trunks when they are looking for a hollow for a nest or rest; their skeleton is capable of contracting in the vertical direction, that is, from the sides. In the life of a dormouse, this is of exceptional importance: in natural conditions, this ability allows you to quickly hide in a narrow gap, crack or tiny hollow, escaping from a predator. Silky, thick fur protects the dormouse's body from sudden fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
When searching for food, determining danger or detecting neighbors, hearing plays an important role in dormouse. Wide, rounded ears serve as a kind of locators that are constantly in motion, turning independently of one another. Largest sizes(in relation to the body) they reach the garden dormouse, the second place is occupied by the hazel dormouse, and after it the regiment and forest dormouse.
The digestive system and structure of the teeth in sleepyheads indicate a mixed diet and the advantage of solid food over the rest. The animals hold the food with their front paws, just like a squirrel, quickly rotating it and thereby facilitating the rapid opening of seeds and hard-shelled nuts. On the shell that has been processed, you can always find traces of sharp incisors, located in rows around the circumference. The main “decoration” of the dormouse is its magnificent tail, like that of a squirrel, it does not perform a grasping function, but helps to maintain balance when moving through the trees, and also plays the role of a balancer during a long jump. In addition, the dormouse's tail has a wonderful property: the animal can “shed” the skin of its tail, turning out of the clutches of a predator; in the exposed area, the damaged tail heals over time and grows overgrown with hair.
Late puberty, small number of cubs per litter (3 to 5), long hibernation and the associated limited timing of the mating season (and dormice breed 1-2 times a year) - all these facts should have put the dormice population under threat. However, such poor fertility of dormice is compensated by the excellently developed maternal instinct, good health and longevity of these rodents. Sonya is one of those animals that live literally under our noses, but are so agile, secretive and unnoticeable that you can live your whole life two steps away from them, and only see them in a photograph. This probably influenced the fact that dormouse is so rarely kept at home: many people simply do not know about them. Despite the vast areas of distribution (for example, the forest dormouse is found almost everywhere in central Russia), dormouse are distributed unevenly across their habitats, choosing the most favorable, safe and food-rich places for their territory. In rural areas, dormouse prefer to settle next to humans - in vegetable gardens, in hazel thickets, where there are bushes and fruit trees, in abandoned buildings, barns, in attics under the roof of a house, etc.
If you have dealt with decorative rodents, caring for dormice and keeping them in your apartment will not pose any particular difficulties for you. For a dormouse, you will need a standard all-metal cage. The tray in such a cage should be very durable, preferably also metal - any of the dormice will gnaw on fragile plastic very quickly. Such cells are available for sale, but more often they are made to order or independently. The distance between the bars of the cage should be small, since the dormouse is a small, dexterous, very nimble animal that can squeeze into any gap. An excellent alternative to a cage is a spacious, properly equipped and well-ventilated terrarium, which today can be purchased or custom-made.
Like most mammals, the dormouse needs drinking water, therefore, it is necessary to hang a nipple drinker with a metal tip on the outside of the cage bars - water from such a drinker does not spill, and it is very convenient to use. It is better to use metal feeders, made of ceramics or thick, durable glass - such a design is difficult to damage, chew or knock over. Sawdust or granulated wood filler are used as bedding material for dormouse. Since Sony is wildlife They love to hide and sleep in shelters; for each type of dormouse it is necessary to place a wooden or ceramic house in a cage. If desired, you can replace it with a cardboard box, but it will very quickly be torn and chewed, so it is better to spend money once on a purchased house that will last your animal much longer. Due to hibernation, the dormouse's body is able to quickly accumulate fat deposits, so it is necessary to ensure that the animal is actively moving and is in good physical shape. Not all sleepyheads will “want” to sleep for many months, but their tendency to overeat and become obese can cause significant harm to their health. The cage for a dormouse should be quite spacious and equipped with climbing ladders, floors and shelves so that the animal is interested in running and playing.
Like all rodents, without exception, dormice must be kept clean, especially since they are very clean and love to take care of their luxurious fur, licking themselves for long hours and “making a mess.” Order in a dormouse's home lies not only in frequent and timely changes of bedding material. At least once every 1-2 days it is necessary to wash the feeders and be sure to change the water in the drinking bowl, regardless of whether it has run out or not. IN summer heat drinkers should be checked regularly and filled as many times as needed: the pet should have fresh water and grain mixture at any time of the day.
As for other rodents, the same maintenance rules apply to dormice: the cage should be in a well-lit room, but not near a window, direct sunlight should not fall on it, and drafts should be avoided in the room. The cage should not be placed near heating appliances, as this can lead to overheating and heat stroke. The ideal position of the cage is at eye level or slightly lower, so that you can always see your pet and easily open the door, pour in food, change the water bowl, etc. It is better to store grain feed in a closed container, pouring the contents of an open pack into a glass jar with a lid - this will protect it from moisture, dust and insects.
Hazel Dormouse: the most touching
The hazel dormouse is also called the dormouse. This is the smallest of the dormouse living in Russia. Adorable baby, slightly larger size Djungarian hamster(8-10 cm) inhabits broadleaf forests Asia Minor and Europe - from the Volga to Great Britain. Dormouses hide their nests, cleverly woven from grass and leaves, in the branches of bushes - rosehip, blackthorn, hawthorn, dogwood or hazelnut. If a dormouse manages to find some empty hollow, she willingly settles in it, making a cozy nest there. Having found a birdhouse that is not occupied by feathered residents, the dormouse will settle in it like a proprietor, without asking for whom it was hung. Interestingly, in winter, in preparation for a long hibernation, dormice move to warm winter “apartments,” which are often built in burrows or under tree roots.The hazel dormouse feeds almost exclusively on plant matter. In spring, the basis of its nutrition in nature consists of buds, young shoots and green leaves of trees, as well as acorns (including those that have already sprouted). In summer, its diet includes all kinds of berries, fruits and unripe hazelnuts. In autumn, seeds of trees and shrubs are added to this vegetable menu. The hazel dormouse, like most other dormouse, hibernates during the winter. Hibernation is a kind of protective mechanism that allows animals to survive difficult times. This mode of reasonable calorie saving helps preserve the dormouse population and is very important for their life. In order to survive the winter safely, in the fall they begin to feed more intensively and accumulate fat reserves: there is a known case when a hazel dormouse, which scientists observed, weighed 15 g in the summer, more than doubled its weight by the fall!
What is hibernation and how is it characterized? If a sleeping animal is disturbed or picked up, it will quickly wake up. If we are dealing with hibernation, a cold, hardened fur ball will remain lying in our palms; the animal will wake up only when it warms up. During hibernation, all life processes in animals slow down. Inhalations and exhalations occur very rarely, the heart also beats at a slow pace. Body temperature drops so much that it can often be only one degree higher than the temperature environment. This “inhibited” state helps sleepyheads save precious calories, because they need to stretch out the accumulated 10-15 grams of fat over several months!
It is curious that in nature, when the temperature in the wintering nests drops too low, dormice, in a half-asleep state, move deeper - to where it is warmer. If, on the contrary, the frost outside gives way to a thaw, the animals begin to wake up, because warming is a signal for awakening. It also happens that the deceptive spring warming is replaced by insidious long-term cold weather, so awakened animals may die. When they wake up, all their life processes accelerate, energy consumption increases, and by the end of winter there are very few sources of energy (fat reserves in the body) left. The sad statistics are as follows: in the most unfavorable years, up to 70% of these charming animals do not come out of hibernation and die. Young individuals who have not had time to accumulate enough fat in the body are especially vulnerable to frost. At home, of course, this will not happen, but you should carefully monitor your pet and, if he decides to hibernate, do not disturb him unnecessarily and provide him with intensive, varied nutrition after waking up.
In the wild, all dormouse, without exception, lead a solitary lifestyle, not forming flocks. Males and females live together quite short period- only during mating. However, often dormouse (and hazel dormouse is no exception!) gather together for the winter. A whole company of dormice usually sleeps in the wintering nest, huddled closely together. This reduces heat loss and, consequently, energy consumption. In this way, the animals help each other survive. Externally, hazel dormouse is extremely attractive. They have huge, black eyes and long fluffy mustaches, making their faces unusually expressive. The hazel dormouse's muzzle is more blunt than that of other dormouse. Body color is brownish-red, often quite bright.
The hazel dormouse loves to climb, so the cage for such a pet should be not so much spacious as high. Additional tiers and floors, ladders and snags for climbing are great entertainment for your pet. In the literature, advice is given to place not one, but 2-3 shelter houses in a cage with a hazel dormouse, so that the animal has a choice of a place to rest; This makes the animal feel more comfortable. Dormouse food should be quite varied. Most of all they love sunflower seeds and a variety of nuts: hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts and peanuts. This food should be given to sleepyheads in limited quantities to avoid problems with the liver and excess weight. In addition, juicy food is also necessary: apples, pears, bananas, berries. They love dormouse and dried fruits. However, you should not pamper them with nuts and sweet “sweets” too often and too much - the animal will begin to be capricious and stop eating the grain mixture. This statement is absolutely true for all dormouse kept in captivity.
Attention! The hazel dormouse has a number of disadvantages that should be considered before you decide to purchase this animal:
- Dormouse is a very nimble, agile and timid animal. It is very, very difficult to catch, grab and put back into the cage an escaped animal! (This applies to absolutely all sleepyheads),
- the hazel dormouse has a very distinct specific smell, so frequent cleaning of the cage is necessary. This animal is not suitable for allergy sufferers!
- this dormouse constantly needs live food (insects),
- the hazel dormouse has a rather “brittle” tail, so under no circumstances grab the animal by the tail and do not scare the pet, because the instinct to “throw off” the tail in small dormouse is very developed.
Garden Dormouse: the most beautiful
When creating the garden dormouse, the Creator, apparently, was in an excellent mood. Still would! In addition to a perfect body and excellent adaptability to living conditions, this dormouse has a fabulous, bright and unique beauty. A black “mask” on an elongated, graceful muzzle, huge bowl eyes, touching ears with a dark border, a dark red fur coat with a golden tint, a snow-white belly and a magnificent tail with a charming tassel at the end - this is the appearance of this delightful animal. Garden dormouse inhabits mixed and deciduous forests of central Russia, the Volga-Kama region and Southern Urals, as well as Belarus and Ukraine. It often lives in gardens and often in human dwellings located in close proximity to the forest.This is a very mobile and agile animal that finds food both in the tree layer and on the ground. It consists of various seeds, fruits and berries. Plant foods do not occupy a leading place in the diet of the garden dormouse, but the predilection for animal food is clearly visible in all parts of its range. The basis of nutrition is insects and other arthropods. Settling near orchards, the dormouse willingly eats large quantities of apples, pears and other fruits along with the seeds. At the end of summer - beginning of autumn, having switched to feeding on seeds and fruits, garden dormice become very fat, which is a necessary condition for preparing for hibernation.
This dormouse makes nests in tree hollows and stumps, and less often raises its young in burrows. Females bring cubs no more than 2 times a year, each litter contains 3-6 cubs. The dormouse spends the winter hibernating in specially built wintering shelters, which are located on the ground or underground, because in freezing natural hollows and artificial nests, hibernating animals would inevitably die. These shelters are found in intertwined roots, rodent burrows and under the butts of stumps. Usually they are insulated with a bedding of dry grass, feathers, wool, and chewed leaves. At home, garden dormouse should be kept in a fairly spacious cage with frequent bars, a terrarium or an aviary made of fine mesh. In addition to plant foods, they should also be given insects and their larvae, especially mealworms, as well as minced meat and a boiled egg. These animals eat very well all kinds of nutritional mixtures with the addition of milk powder.
The forest dormouse is very similar in appearance, behavior, and distribution area to the garden dormouse, but rarely settles near humans. As for keeping these dormouse in captivity - both garden and forest dormouse It is categorically not recommended for inexperienced owners, and especially for a child. It is very difficult to choose a feeding diet and keep these dormouse in good shape all year round: in addition to the peculiar eating habits, individual for each individual (and among dormouse there are also capricious gourmands and gourmets!), the owner will inevitably face the problem of buying or breeding live food at home , which is vital for these sleepyheads.
African dormouse: the most popular
The African dormouse (Graphiurus murinus) is now easier to find on sale than other dormouse. There are many photographs, articles and posts on various forums on the Internet dedicated to this charming animal. St. Petersburg, Moscow and Ukrainian breeders have quite extensive experience in keeping and breeding African dormouse in captivity. As the name suggests, this dormouse is common in Africa, predominantly sub-Saharan Africa. The animal chooses wooded areas and places near water. The African dormouse is a small animal, weighing about 30 g, body length is about 16 cm, tail length is 13 cm. The wool is soft, ash-gray. The African dormouse has a white or grayish belly, often interspersed with red-brown color. There are often white and black spots on the muzzle, the tail is black on top or dark brown, and the bottom of the tail is whitish. In nature, dormouse feed on green shoots, seeds, nuts, fruits, eggs, insects and small vertebrates. It is believed that the African dormouse is a more gregarious animal than other representatives of the dormouse: they were found in colonies of 12 or more individuals. These animals usually spend time in trees, hollows and branches of bushes, rarely descending to the ground.“Sonia Africana is a twilight, small, very nimble, cheerful, mischievous, cunning animal, but, unfortunately, not burdened with high intelligence. A definite “plus” is that the African dormouse does not hibernate; She doesn't need it because there is no winter in Africa. (All other types of dormouse require hibernation.) Dormice are not aggressive, do not fight with each other, live alone, in pairs and in groups, are promiscuous, constantly changing partners (if any), females are very loving, and reproduce seasonally: winter and summer (only 2 times a year).
During the mating period, they “sing”: they whistle like nightingales, very funny and beautiful... if not at night! In normal times, the animals are silent (they don’t make any sounds), and this is also their huge “plus”. They give birth to 3, rarely 5, naked, blind cubs, the care of which falls entirely on the female. It’s interesting, but if sleepyheads live in a small flock, the whole group takes care of, warms, and washes the newborn babies. Nobody tries to eat them. At 1-2 months, little dormouse are already independent, playful, eat themselves and are a smaller copy of their parents.
African dormouse feed on everything they can eat. Zophobos is their favorite and desired delicacy, but for proper nutrition they also need crickets, locusts, sweet fruits (especially bananas), baby sweet food, curds, yoghurts, grain mixtures for rodents, nuts, boiled meat - chicken, boiled eggs. You must understand that the sleepyhead is NOT a hamster! Without protein food (such as meat, eggs, and definitely insects), it will simply die. In addition to this, my sleepyheads ate pasta, persimmons, and cucumbers, but these are more of a taste preference than a proper diet. Dormouse should not be overfed and should not be given sweets or starchy foods! Although they are ready to feast on treats 24 hours a day, they should not be indulged in any way, since the animals are extremely prone to gaining excess weight.
Dormouses smell of what they eat: it is a pronounced sweetish smell (another undoubted advantage of African dormouse is the complete absence of the smell of urine or feces!), that is, when you open the terrarium, you will smell as if you had entered a candy store: it smells sweet, but not understand what exactly. These dormouse are active at dusk, that is, in dim light and at night. They don’t make any noise themselves, but, of course, you can hear them when the animals run around in the wheel. Sonya African is a real “mass entertainer”; she loves everything she can do to have fun: a running wheel, ropes, tunnels, a small ball, a swing (all of these products can be purchased at a pet store today). “Africans” are curious, taken into the house when they are young, they easily get used to people, stop running wild and biting, run with pleasure in their arms, run over the body and head, and get used to their nickname.
Among the “disadvantages” of African dormouse: it is absolutely impossible to lure them out of the house with a tasty treat: the dormouse either runs to you on its own or not, that is, there is a fair amount of independence in their character. African dormice are very fast, you should not let them get away with it, otherwise the animal will run away for a walk around the apartment, and will return to you only when it wants to. These animals also have another annoying, but incorrigible manner: they relieve themselves wherever they want. Keep this in mind and never pick them up while standing in evening dress, and do not offer to cuddle your pet to smart guests sitting at festive table, no matter how touched they are.
African dormice are kept in vertical cages with very fine bars, or in terrariums (I kept a group of 9 dormice in the Exo Terra 45*45*60 cm terrarium). A terrarium is beautiful and convenient; there are no sawdust scattered on the floor. In a cage or terrarium you definitely need a shelter (for example, a coconut house or a bird nest), a drinking bowl, a running wheel and all kinds of “entertainment”. It is better to use sawdust purchased at a pet store as bedding material for the bottom.
African dormouse perfect pet for an esthete and an original adult “night owl”, that is, someone who likes to sit in the evenings and goes to bed late. Small child will crush, injure, lose the sleepyhead, or be bitten. I had a favorite, an African dormouse named Myshandra. She was waiting for me from work, chirping with impatience and jumping into my arms, or rather trying to climb onto my head. She was distinguished by her affectionateness, intelligence and intelligence; she liked my hair, and she discreetly chewed off a bun while sitting on my shoulder, and when I noticed this hooliganism, she rushed into the house, taking the valuable “trophy” with her. Every time I wanted to take it from the nest, Mousendra chirped furiously, became indignant, and the bunch remained with her.
How did African dormouse come to me? One day I saw a photo of a dormouse on the Internet and literally fell in love with this miracle, I began to look everywhere for such an animal, but they were nowhere to be found. I bought my dormouse only in Ukraine, from the breeder Andrey Bychenko, and then ordered the animals from Germany. This is how African dormouse appeared in St. Petersburg. Many times they brought offspring, making me happy, but then reptiles appeared in the house, and my dormouse moved to live in Moscow, with an experienced lover of rare animals, where they live, thrive and reproduce to this day. Of course, all my babies found caring hands, but now I don’t know a single breeder of African dormice in our city who would breed and sell them. Therefore, if you want to get these cute pets, I advise you to look for them through an advertisement on the Internet in Moscow.”
Dormouse: the most interesting (see the top picture)
Our acquaintance with the dormouse was fleeting, short-lived, but very interesting. While vacationing in the south, I often heard all the local gardeners complaining that they “have no life from these rat squirrels!” At first it seemed to me that this was some kind of prank or joke, but it’s unlikely that provincial pensioners would call someone a character from a cartoon “ glacial period", a fictional saber-toothed rat squirrel who, from episode to episode, runs around with her nut and always ends up in ridiculous situations. No one could really explain what kind of rat squirrel this was, they only said that it was “a kind of rat, but with a fluffy tail.” She rampaged through the gardens, completely stripped the hazel trees, encroached on the wonderful figs, sweet as honey, and generally interfered with life. But there was no hatred or disgust in the voices of the locals, such as there is for rats or mice, except perhaps a good-natured grumbling. No one poisoned the “rat squirrels” or caught them in traps - they were scolded like unlucky teenagers who were pretty fed up, but they exist, and nothing can be done about it.We usually had breakfast, lunch and dinner on the terrace, in the open air, where we often gathered in company, drank wine for long hours, chatted, laughed, admired the amazing stars and sang to the guitar. In general, at night in the Caucasus you can see and hear a lot of interesting things. Twilight sketches silhouettes bats, magical fireflies light up, cicadas sing, owls hoot and jackals howl terribly in the mountains... Sometimes, if you're lucky, you can see some strange animal. And so we sit at night, drink tea (or not tea), admire the fabulous night sky... Eternity stretches before our eyes, and also a piece of a garden, a fence and a woodshed full of old spare parts, tools, boards and other necessary and unnecessary things. In the bushes nearby (just stretch out your hand!) a mysterious rustling is heard, and then something begins: in the gap between the roof and the wall of the barn, a torn branch with leaves “runs” past us! A minute passes, the rustling resumes, and everything repeats itself again, but the one who carries this branch is not visible in the pitch darkness. One thing is clear: this is a small animal, nocturnal, most likely a female who is building a nest for her future or existing offspring.
This went on for several evenings in a row. Burning with curiosity, we climbed into the barn during the day, but we really didn’t want to climb over the rusty rubbish, climb into the woodpile, look for and disturb the nest, where the babies might be located. And then one day I was lucky: in the dim light of our street lamp I saw a graceful tailed silhouette with smoky fur flashing through the hazel thickets. Yes, it was she, the mysterious beauty, none other than the legendary “rat squirrel”! In just a split second, I managed to understand that this is not a squirrel (the body proportions are slightly different, and there are no tufts on the pointed ears; this animal has round ears), that the animal is very careful, dexterous and agile, and also that it is damn charming and nice But none of us managed to examine this animal in detail, much less photograph it. The fact that the “rat squirrel” and the dormouse are one and the same thing, I found out on the Internet already in St. Petersburg, a few months later.
The dormouse is the largest representative of the dormouse; its size is not much smaller than the gray rat. The chick is distinguished by incredibly thick fur, record long whiskers (up to 6 cm!), and especially large eyes, as if “circled” by a dark border. The color of the fur is smoky-gray, with a brownish tint and silvery tints, the tail seems to be “combed” with a parting in two halves. This is a very beautiful, bright and unusually interesting animal to observe. Let's look at the dormouse in more detail: if only because he is an ideal pet.
Interesting Facts:
The ancient Romans valued the dormouse not only for its beautiful fur. It turns out that its meat was famous as a deliciously tasty delicacy! In a number of European languages, the dormouse (Glis glis) is still called “edible dormouse” (for example, in English). This strange name has roots in history Ancient Rome. At first, dormouse was eaten during periods of famine, but then the custom took root, and even patricians devoured them - in such interesting combinations as “dormouse stuffed with nuts” or “dormouse boiled in honey.” Moreover, the tradition of eating dormouse remains! They are still eaten in Slovenia, where "navadni polh" is considered a delicacy.
In ancient times, dormouse was much more famous than it is today. For example, Aristotle not only described appearance garden dormouse and a regiment, but also talked about their winter hibernation. The naturalist Pliny the Elder also gave a very vivid description of the dormouse. This animal was very popular due to its very tasty meat and fur. As a gift, shellfish were valued on a par with pheasants, guinea fowl, oysters and moray eels. Pliny described special “educational” institutions - gliraria, in which dormouse was kept and bred. Gliraria were quite large areas, fenced with a high smooth wall, preventing sleepyheads from getting out and thieves from getting in. Behind the fence there were many hollow fruit trees, as well as special shelters in which dormouse could hide and breed. The owners of such “sonefarms” carefully ensured that all wild animals, the founders of the colony, were from the same forest, otherwise bloody fights would break out between strangers. In addition to large glyrari there were also small ones. These were voluminous vessels with a small inlet and a lot of ventilation holes. In similar vessels, decorated with exquisite carvings and drawings, dormouse was presented as a gift to wealthy patricians. There were also special reference books with recipes for dormouse dishes. Artists captured the image of a pretty fluffy animal in beautiful figurines and ornaments. His image can be seen, for example, on the facade of the Lateran Palace in Rome.
In the wild, this dormouse inhabits central Russia and more southern regions; it is most numerous in the Caucasus, including on the Black Sea coast. The dormouse has very interesting habits that distinguish this dormouse from all the others. For example, they get along with each other better than other dormouse - both in a hollow, in a wintering nest and in a home enclosure, cage or terrarium. The dormouse's exit from the shelter for a walk is long and unique. First, a rustling sound is heard from the shelter, then a curious and wary muzzle appears, then the animal comes out of the nest. The first cautious glances, timid “reconnaissance” sniffing, moving ears - and then the animal became bolder and began its nocturnal adventures. First of all, the dormouse climbs onto a high branch and begins to make itself beautiful: it washes itself, cleans its lush fur, combs its tail, licks and wipes its muzzle with its paws, after which it disappears into the dense crown of the tree, running away about its business. The dormouse usually has several shelters, not becoming attached to the same place, but it is very responsible when it comes to building a nest for its offspring. The animals begin to carry bedding to their favorite shelter. Most often these are green leaves from oak, hornbeam, beech, and less often - leaves of shrubs. Real spherical nests inside a birdhouse or hollow dormice are not suitable. They make a cup-shaped nest, the bottom of which is lined with soft material, but such care is usually characteristic only of females. Males are lazier: they can live without any bedding at all, making do with one or two leaves placed on the bottom. Where there is a shortage of hollow trees, and birdhouses and nest boxes are not hung, dormice build open nests with a diameter of about 20 cm from dry branches, which are lined from the inside with moss, grass and wool. Open nests are usually placed on trees with a spreading crown at a height of about 2-3 m, sometimes higher.
Dormouse is very gluttonous, she eats a large amount of food, which consists of acorns, walnuts, chestnuts, beech nuts, various berries and fruits (apples, pears, figs, etc.). The animals prefer sweet, ripe fruits to unripe ones, so before feeding they try each fruit and throw away the unsuitable ones. Food of animal origin (caterpillars, beetles, etc.) is eaten in smaller quantities. Over the summer, the animals become very fat, increasing their weight by 25-40%.
Active period of daily activity: twilight and until morning; During the day, dormouse sleep in nests and shelters. This animal almost always leads an arboreal lifestyle, constantly climbs both trunks and thin branches, and easily makes jumps of up to 7-10 meters, jumping from tree to tree. Hibernation lasts from November to May. During the hibernation period, up to 4-8 animals fit into one place. At home, in a cage or enclosure, a family of dormice also lives very amicably: they play together, climb walls and floors, “talk” to each other and sleep in an embrace, huddled in a corner of a cage or crammed into a cramped house with the whole crowd. But to truly understand and feel the charm of the dormouse, of course, you need to look at their photographs, talk to breeders, and ideally, see this wonderful animal in person.
Today we have a unique opportunity to ask some questions Konstantin Lifatov, Deputy general director Adygzooresurs LLC, a breeder who has been breeding dormouse for many years.
– Konstantin, please tell me what it’s like to be kept at home different types Dormouses are different from each other and what kind of dormouse would you advise new owners who have not previously kept a dormouse at home to get?
– Small species of dormouse are very difficult to keep: the smaller the dormouse, the higher its need for animal protein (and live food, respectively!), so for a beginner, either a garden dormouse or a shelf is preferable. All dormouse, with the exception of Polchka and African dormouse (I, however, have no experience with the latter) are not for beginners. Small dormice are best suited for ardent rodent lovers who want to have a whole “collection” of different animals at home. The hazel dormouse eats the most insects; garden and forest dormouse are also highly desirable. Experienced hobbyists who agree to such conditions most often breed crickets or mealworms themselves.
– Probably the most difficult thing about keeping dormouse is the issue of hibernation. Is it necessary to put the animal into hibernation or can it do without it, and if necessary, what is the best way to do this in apartment conditions?
– Speaking of the little dormouse, I can reassure you: don’t be alarmed! Hibernation is not necessary for a shelfling if you do not plan to breed dormice. Many “experts” groundlessly claim that without hibernation, the dormouse’s life will be shortened, but this is true only for small species of dormouse, and the dormouse, if properly maintained, lives well for up to 12 years, so the dormouse is a real long-liver among small animals. If you keep the animal in an apartment where it is warm, there is enough food and light, it is unlikely to have the need to hibernate in the winter.
– Now let's touch on breeding issues. Is it necessary to choose a mate for the sleepyhead? Is it difficult to breed dormouse in captivity?
– But I wouldn’t recommend breeding for beginners. Breeding regiments is very difficult. Their rut takes place in April-May, but some females have a latent phase of pregnancy, and, being covered, give birth to cubs only after hibernation. I keep a population of chicks in a large enclosure (70 sq. m.), located in Adygea. The core of the livestock consists of 50 females and 7 males, a little more than half of the females give birth, I immediately remove the males after the rut, but if I move a female with her cubs, she can abandon them. Any breeder may have failures during breeding (death of young animals, unsuccessful matings, etc.). There have been cases of dormice breeding at home, but they are rare. It is better for a novice hobbyist to first get acquainted with the contents of dormouse in his own practice, to better learn all the nuances of their feeding and behavior, and to gain as much knowledge as possible. It is better not to decide to breed dormice without preparation.
– Then let’s continue to talk about the difficulties that await the owner of a Sonya regiment. The future co-owner must be prepared for any surprises!
– It is very important to warn people that if the animal escapes, your apartment risks turning into real ruins. This is not a hamster, so the damage and the number of things chewed will not be commensurate with the mayhem caused by an ordinary domestic rodent. In addition, the dormouse is more elusive, so it needs an appropriate cage. It is also important to say this: in order for dormice to bring joy, you need to devote time to them, lure them with a treat to your hand (a piece of some tropical fruit is suitable as a treat). Then the animal will become contact and will react to the appearance of the owner. But in general, the dormouse is ideal for those who do not have time for a cat, or especially a dog, but still really want to have an animal at home. Imagine a picture: a person comes home in the evening, and the pet wakes up when he returns...
– Konstantin, how can I buy a dormouse?
– Despite the fact that our nursery is located in Adygea, our dormouse can “move” to your city. If you are interested in this wonderful animal, you can write to the VKontakte group called “Sleepyheads and Raccoons”.
