Rodent dormouse, little lover of wood. Dormouse family Dormouse species

This small animal is very similar to regular mouse, but with a fluffy “squirrel” tail. Externally, there are two types of dormouse - mouse-shaped and squirrel-shaped. The former have a bare tail and live on the ground, the latter live in trees. Dormice are very small animals; an adult animal can easily fit in the palm of your hand. They are active mainly at night. These animals began to be domesticated relatively recently, in the last century, due to a decrease in the number of individuals of the species. Thanks to the technological progress of the last century, the number forest zones, where these animals live, decreased significantly, and the dormouse was listed in the Red Book, and also began to be bred under artificial conditions in order to prevent the extinction of the species.

Titles in other languages:
The name of the dormouse in Latin sounds like Myoxidae or Gliridae. There is also Latin name subfamily of dormouse, Graphiurinae. On English language"dormouse" sounds like Dormouse, and in German it sounds like Siebenschlaefer.

Classification:
Dormouses belong to the animal kingdom, the phylum of chordates, the subphylum of vertebrates. Dormice are mammals of the placental subclass. Of course, these are rodents that belong to the squirrel-shaped ones, the dormouse family. In total, 9 genera and 28 species of these animals are known in nature.

Dormouse habitat:
These rodents are mostly found in steppes and forest-steppes. The main regions of their habitat are the northern part of Africa, China and Japan, Altai, and Asia Minor. And in southern Africa there is even a separate species of animal, which is called the African dormouse. Other genera of this rodent prefer cooler climates. The most common dormouse are those that live in trees. For example, a dormouse can live its entire life on a tree. Tree species settle mainly in hollows or nests, while terrestrial species dig burrows near tree roots or fallen trunks. There are also garden species of these animals; they cause great damage to gardens, destroying cultivated plants.

Sony Description:
Mouse-like animals, as the name suggests, look like mice, and squirrel-like animals look like squirrels. On average, dormouse grow up to 10 cm, sometimes 20-centimeter individuals are found. They have cute round ears and beady eyes. Dormice, thanks to their sharp claws, can cling well to tree bark. Some members of the family may be missing one claw on the hind paw. If you place the animal in your palm, you can feel the hard pads on the animal’s paws. The dormouse's fur is reddish-gray, very soft and long, the hairs are smooth and reach 17 cm in length. The squirrel-like ones have a very prominent fluffy tail. Winter for dormice is a period of hibernation. As for a rodent, the dormouse lives relatively long - in nature up to 5 years, in captivity no more than 3 years.

Sony power supply:
Tree dormouse feed on what mainly grows and lives in trees. These are nuts, seeds, tree fruits, small insects. Ground dormice are more herbivorous; they love various grasses, dandelion leaves, clover, and nettles. Tree-dwelling dormouse ruin bird's nests in order to feast on their eggs. This breed of rodents is also characterized by a predatory trait; they can eat other, smaller animals. If a dormouse is kept at home, it is preferable for her to diversify her diet with plant foods - grains, seeds, fruits, nuts, and sometimes bread and carrots. There is also no need to exclude animal foods. You can occasionally pamper your pet with boiled meat, milk, cottage cheese, and chicken eggs. And for some species, animal products are even more important in the diet than vegetation. Insects and eggs should always be present in the feeder of garden and African dormouse. You can also breed special mealworms for dormouse nutrition. If you add fish oil to your dormouse's food, the animal's body will receive even more vitamins and nutrients.

Reproduction of dormouse:
Already from the first month of life, dormice are ready to reproduce. Their mating season begins in the spring. Females produce offspring mainly once a year. Almost all types of dormouse, except the common dormouse, reproduce well both in natural and at home conditions. The female carries the cubs for a month, after which naked and blind babies are born. There are up to 10 of them in a litter, and they feed on mother’s milk for up to 3 weeks. Little sleepyheads are very attached to their mother, so it is impossible to tear them away from her ahead of time, this can become serious stress for the babies. It is curious that dormouse care for their young together with their fathers, a “full-fledged” family.

Maintenance and care of the dormouse:
Sonya are known for their unpretentiousness and peacefulness. They calmly get along with several animals in one enclosure or cage. The animals feel good in spacious enclosures, because in a cramped cage the dormouse will not be able to move actively enough and will begin to gain excess weight. It is best for a dormouse to equip a home that is as similar as possible to natural environment a habitat. You can lay moss or a layer of peat on the floor of the enclosure, and lay out twigs, bark, and stumps on it. You can grow dormouse right in your home edible plants, grass, gooseberry or currant bushes. For the hibernation of these small animals, it is necessary to equip a cozy corner. A pipe leading from the hole to a small box insulated with dry hay is suitable for this. If a dormouse lives in a cage, it must be equipped with all the necessary attributes for rodents - a drinking bowl, sawdust on the floor, a bowl, a tray, toys. Dormouses love to tinker with their nests, so in the cage you can hang a small wooden box with a set of “building materials”: ​​twigs, hay, etc.

Additionally:
Dormice are not only loved to be kept as pets. They are also valued for their good fur as fur-bearing animals. The skin of the dormouse was especially prized; at one time special hunts were organized for them. In general, this is a very curious species; the dormouse has an excellent appetite and autumn period gains a lot of weight, but still makes large reserves for the winter in its nest.

Hazel dormouse is small rodent, similar to a mouse, but with a more attractive, bushy tail. This animal lives in the wild, but recently it has increasingly begun to be kept at home. How to care for such an animal? What do you need to know about him?

Animal dormouse: characteristics of a rodent

In nature, there are two types of these rodents - ground and arboreal dormouse. The terrestrial one is more reminiscent of a familiar mouse, while the arboreal one is more like a squirrel. Both of them get along well next to a person if the most comfortable living conditions are created for them. It is very important to remember about cleanliness in the cage: dormice, despite the fact that they are very small animals, very quickly pollute their home, and this, in turn, leads to an unpleasant odor in the room.

Now a little about the appearance of this animal:

The dormouse is a nocturnal animal, so it will sleep most of the day. Such animals do not live long - from 3 to 5 years.

It is very interesting to watch the movements of the dormouse along the branches of trees, because this small rodent is very dexterous and is able to jump a distance of 10 m.

Where to buy such an animal

Hazel Dormouse- is not such an exotic animal, so it can be bought at any pet store, as well as at the poultry market or even directly from breeders. On the Internet you can often find advertisements from individuals for the sale of this rodent.

By the way, when buying a dormouse from someone else, you need to be careful: it is possible that this particular individual was caught in the forest, and accordingly, there is a risk that it may bite its owner and give him some kind of infection.

But if the baby is very timid and not at all aggressive This means that he was already born in captivity, and this one can continue to be taught to handle.

On average, you will need to pay about 1000 rubles for a sleepyhead.

Before buying the animal itself, you need to take care of its future home in advance. A cage measuring 100x200x50 cm with many ladders, shelves and houses inside it is perfect for a dormouse. Also, you can install ropes in the cage so that the animal can climb them, and a running wheel, which all rodents without exception like.

Round cages are not suitable for these animals at all.. It is best to keep Sonya in a standard square or rectangular cage. It is important that it be spacious and with many attributes for active life animal.

At first, the hazel dormouse will show maximum caution towards its new home, and this is normal, so you should not get upset and think that something is wrong with the animal. Over time, it will adapt to the cage, explore all the ladders, take a closer look at the houses and the wheel, after which it will begin its usual active lifestyle. The hazel dormouse is very active by nature, so very soon she will begin to climb ropes, go down the installed ladders, then climb up, and this will be her main hobby.

Attention: You should not let the animal out of the cage and let it run around the apartment or house. These are very agile rodents, so it will be very difficult to catch them, and there is also a high risk that the dormouse can get stuck somewhere, chew something, or be caught by other pets (for example, a cat).

The hazel rodent thrives alone, but can also be kept in pairs. It should be remembered that such animals within the same cage can live either in pairs or as one family. Planting two pairs or even two families of rodents in one territory is fraught with danger: hazel dormouse will not tolerate competition and will endlessly fight among themselves.

These rodents are very prolific, so when you get a mate with them, you need to be prepared for a constant litter. If there is no goal of breeding hazel dormouse, then all individuals should be kept separately from each other.

Sonya are not the cleanest animals, therefore, in addition to daily cleaning of the bedding, it will be necessary to carry out regular weekly cleaning of the entire cage, which involves washing the bottom, feeders, and rods.

What do dormice eat?

Sony food is almost no different from the diet of any other rodent; it consists of the following products:

It is very important that the animal always has clean and fresh water, so the drinking bowl should be cleaned and refilled every day.

Every day it is enough for a dormouse to eat about 40 grams of food, so these animals are not at all prone to gluttony and weight gain.

You can treat this animal with special treats a couple of times a week., For example:

• ground gray loves ordinary bread and herbs;
• Tree redheads will like regular eggs.

A few words about rodent reproduction

These animals reach puberty very quickly, and already at 1 month of age they can be brought together. They produce offspring only once a year, and this usually happens in the spring. The female's pregnancy lasts exactly one month, after which approximately 10 babies are born. Since the dormouse is a mammal, the young will be fed on their mother's milk. The feeding period is 3 weeks, after which the stronger babies begin to feed themselves. After just a week of self-feeding, the babies become adults and can bear offspring themselves.

It is interesting that such rodents take a very responsible approach to raising their offspring, in which not only the mother, but also the father participates. So, such a family can be considered complete in all respects.

In winter, animals hibernate, which is why the cages should contain a small, warm house with sawdust and rags inside. Also, the cage itself should be moved to a warm room during the cold season. Thus, the rodents will sleep for about 3-4 months, and then, in the spring, they will definitely bear offspring.

During the period before and after hibernation, you should pay more attention to the animal’s diet: it should be more nutritious and balanced.

Animal dormouse is one of the representatives of the squad. They are so small that they fit perfectly in the palm of a person. These tiny mammals have a long, bushy tail that resembles a squirrel's.

But only tree-dwelling species have such a beautiful tail. But another species of these animals is endowed with an ordinary bare tail. This interesting animal can be seen mainly in steppe areas and forest areas. Some of them like to bask in the sun and therefore they are found in the northern and southern parts.

Habitats animal dormouse also common in Altai and Asia Minor. But among these rodents there are species that prefer cooler air. More often animals with a name Sony can be seen in dense woody thickets. So, dormouse lives most of its life among tree branches.

In the photo is Sonya Polchok

Forest dormouse They construct their cozy home in a hollow tree or build a safe, strong nest, which they usually build on powerful branches. Some people prefer to use a plot of land under a fallen tree trunk for housing, or dig a hole under the roots.

If such a baby settles in a garden plot, then the cultivated plants noticeably decrease in number. That's why people don't complain garden dormouse. Today, the number of dormice has decreased significantly, so they began to breed them at home, so as not to completely lose such funny, unique animals.

In the photo there is a forest dormouse

Character and lifestyle

Small rodents are active, do not tolerate loneliness, and love to be among their relatives. They are always active and have difficulty getting along at home. Sonya, How pet It gets along better when it has a mate, but some species prefer loneliness.

These mammals are very cautious and are frightened by any unexpected sounds. Therefore, a shelter must be provided for a pet, otherwise the rodent may suffer a nervous shock.

The hazel dormouse and dormouse are the fastest to get used to people, but it is necessary to get a cute pet at an early age so that there are fewer problems with adaptation. Then these babies will be eagerly awaiting your arrival to feast on your hands.

These species have a beautiful fur coat. The very thick and soft fur will not leave any adult indifferent, and will completely amaze a small child. Look at this photo, where the animal dormouse looks with its black beady eyes so that you involuntarily want to touch this fluffy ball.

Despite its harmless appearance, it should be noted that dormice can bite quite strongly, even if you have already made friends with it. This happens because they are very shy and any rustle can provoke a defensive reaction.

More animals dormouse They are very nimble, so if you take the animal in your hands, you may not be able to follow its immediate escape. In a fraction of a second, the sleepyhead will be on your head, and then, perhaps, on the curtain and eventually will be free.

So you need to be on your guard and not give the fugitive the opportunity to disappear from sight. I would like to warn you that you should not grab this animal by the tail, as it can rush forward and you will only have a thin fluffy skin in your hands. The trouble is that after this the tail does not grow back.

And these animals deftly crawl into even the narrowest vertical cracks, and it should be noted that not only in trees, but also in domestic dwellings. This is facilitated by the natural gift of shrinking from the sides.

Under natural conditions, this unique opportunity saves lives. Thanks to its excellent hearing, the dormouse can hide from danger in time. The ears, like locators, constantly rotate independently of each other. The garden dormouse has the largest ears.

Sonya is an animal nocturnal, but in captivity you can change their lifestyle. To do this, you need to illuminate the habitat at night, and backlight it with a blue or red lamp during the day.

Watching their acrobatic tricks can be a great pleasure and great mood all day. Often animal sleepyhead can be seen in a pet store, as well as in a specialized nursery, so it is possible buy such a handsome man for every lover.

Nutrition

The diet of rodents is varied. They include sunflower seeds and all types of nuts in their basic diet. The dormouse's teeth are so sharp that by rotating the nuts in their front paws, they get inside the shell and feast on the wonderful fruit. The little animals are vegetarians, so their menu always includes all types of fruits and vegetables.

But for all species the food is somewhat different from the standard. So for forest, garden and African dormouse, animal food is typical. Animals are also not averse to pampering themselves with raw meat, cottage cheese and eggs. May beetles, crickets and cockroaches are also the favorite food of dormouse.

If they manage to escape from forced housing, then small rodents, birds and lizards can be a wonderful meal. But tree dormice love everything that grows on trees.

Sometimes they prefer small insects. Dormouses, which live in trees, look for bird nests and feast on their eggs. This type of rodent can also attack smaller animals.

Ground dormice are herbivores. The diet traditionally includes dandelion leaves, clover and nettles. garden dormouse, Having settled near an orchard, they eat huge quantities of apples, pears and other fruits along with their seeds.

In the photo there is a garden dormouse

To prepare for winter, garden dormouse accumulate fat in the fall and then sleep peacefully in their burrow. In captivity, the dormouse feeds on grains, seeds, fruits and nuts. The pet likes boiled meat, milk, cottage cheese and chicken eggs.

Reproduction and lifespan of dormouse

Males and females live together for a very short period. In early spring, mating games among dormouse begin. During this period, they “sing” funny. The whistle is so loud that if you are nearby, you will probably not be able to fall asleep at night.

During the day, the animals behave very carefully and quietly. . After mating is complete, the female hurries to build her cozy nest. The mother takes care of the babies mainly herself.

As a rule, 3-5 cubs are born . The dormouse carefully covers the home for her children with soft grass and delicate leaves. About 27–30 days after fertilization, the young are born naked and blind.

Sometimes there are dormouse that live in a small group. In this case, not only the mother, but also all members of the mouse family monitor the newborns. Children become independent within 1-2 months. The offspring are an exact copy of their relatives. They love to play and eat well.

In captivity, animal reproduction begins after hibernation. For most domestic species, a cage is not an obstacle to reproduction, as long as the pets have a good, nutritious diet.

Only dormouse unable to reproduce in captivity. Interestingly, within a month after birth, the dormouse is capable of childbearing. Basically, offspring appear once a year.

There are up to 10 newborns in a litter. Feeding lasts about three weeks. The animal usually lives in captivity in pairs. Therefore, both parents take care of the babies. funny animals dormouse live from 3 to 6 years. At home, you can increase this period by properly maintaining the animal.

Dormouse family

(Myoxidae)**

* * Dormice are one of the most ancient groups of modern rodents. A large number of subfamilies and genera with low species richness indicates the relict nature of the group. Arboreal forms are more like squirrels, terrestrial forms are more like mice, arboreal forms have developed plantar calluses for better climbing, and the outer toes can be opposed to the rest. In nature, dormouse live 2-6 years. The skins of large dormouse are considered secondary fur.

* Six species of African dormouse of the genus Graphiurus inhabit sub-Saharan Africa, the rest of the dormouse live in extratropical Eurasia: 7 species live in Europe and the Mediterranean, in arid regions internal parts Asia - 4 species, in the mountains of China - 1 and in Japan - 1. In the mountains, dormouse rise to 4500 m above sea level. In Russia - 4 species from 4 genera.

* * Polchok is the largest representative of the family. Body length up to 19 cm, tail up to 16.5 cm, weight about 170 g. Soft, rather thick fur on the back is one-color ash-gray, sometimes with a lighter, with a darker blackish-brown tint; it is lighter on the sides of the body. On the stomach and inside legs, milky white coat with a silvery sheen. There is a dark brown ring around the eyes. The thick and feathery tail is brownish-gray with a white longitudinal stripe at the bottom.

Throughout the summer, the regiment searches for prey every night, unless the weather is very bad, throughout its possessions. During such trips, he constantly sits down like a squirrel and puts something edible in his mouth with his front paws. You can constantly hear the clicking of nuts, which the shelf gnaws, or the fall of eaten fruits, which it throws down. By autumn, the animal collects food supplies and stores them in its burrows. At this time he still eats while he can; then he begins to take care of the arrangement of his winter home, prepares a deep hole or finds a suitable place in cracks and crevices of rocks and old walls or in deep tree hollows, where he makes a warm nest from delicate moss. Here he curls up in company with a few companions and falls into a deep sleep long before the time when the thermometer drops to the freezing point; in harsh mountainous areas this time comes already in August, in warmer plains - around October. At this time, the regiment exhibits the same insensitivity as other animals subject to hibernation; his sleep may even be more sound than everyone else's. You can safely take him from the nest and take him anywhere: he will still sleep and remain in an unconscious state. In a warm room, gradually waking up, he begins to move his limbs and little by little begin to move, although he still looks sleepy. When free, he sometimes wakes up on his own and, as if unconsciously, begins to eat the supplies*.

* Dormice do not store any food for the winter, they just get very fat. Their winter hibernation is very deep - real suspended animation with a strong decrease in body temperature and a sharp decrease in the metabolic rate. Only such hibernation allows sleepyheads to “hold out” on fat reserves for more than six months.

* For passive protection from enemies, the regiment, like other sleepyheads, has one means. The skin on the tail is very fragile and is easily torn off by a “stocking” when a predator grabs the dormouse by the tail. The exposed tail dries out and dies; the animal, having lost its balance, becomes more clumsy, but remains alive.

* * The body length of the forest dormouse is up to 11 cm, the tail is the same length. The tail is evenly pubescent, like a regiment's, but the hair on top seems to be combed in the middle. On the hind legs, not only the outer, but also the inner toe can be opposed to the rest.

* Forest dormouse has the widest range among dormouses; to the north and northeast it reaches Sweden, the Volga region, Altai, and to the south - to Italy, forest areas Western and Central Asia, to the East - to Mongolia. In the west it reaches only Austria and Southern Germany. Prefers broad-leaved and hard-leaved forests of the Mediterranean type.

* * Garden dormouse is largely associated with coniferous trees; it penetrates further north than other species - to Karelia, Vologda region, to the east - to the Urals, but is absent in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Asia Minor.

* Plant foods do not occupy a leading position in the diet of this dormouse; the basis of nutrition is invertebrates and small vertebrates. More than other relatives, the garden dormouse spends time on the ground in search of food. In a number of areas of Europe, it prefers to settle near humans, competing with rats and even displacing them due to its aggressiveness. In some places it actually causes significant damage to gardens. In the east of the range it is rare and needs protection.

* This smallest species of the family (weighs 15-35 g), preferring broad-leaved forests, is nevertheless absent from most of Asia Minor, the Crimea and the Caucasus. The northern border in Russia coincides with the northern border of mixed forests. To the east, the hazel dormouse is distributed to the Cis-Urals. The number of the species is low everywhere, and high mortality of young is noted. Systematically, the hazel dormouse, close to the regiment, like him, is the most woody appearance dormouse, which comparatively rarely descends to the ground.

* The hazel dormouse feeds almost exclusively on plant foods, in the summer it is mainly succulent food, and by autumn it is high-calorie hard seeds and nuts.

* * In favorable years, the hazel dormouse brings up to 3 broods; births occur with an interval of 2 months. The mating season begins in April and proceeds very peacefully, without conflicts or fights between males. At this time, the hazel dormouse is more silent than other species; partners are guided mainly not by mating “songs”, but by scent marks. There are usually 3-4 cubs in a litter, which a month after birth stop feeding on milk and become completely independent.

List of species listed in the Red Book Yaroslavl region, published in 2004. The Red Book of the Yaroslavl Region includes 14 species of mushrooms, 173 species of plants and 172 species of animals. The classification is given by edition. Contents 1 Kingdom Mushrooms ... ... Wikipedia

Below is a list of animals listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Mordovia. In square brackets after the name of each species there is a digital code indicating the category of rarity: 0 probably extinct on the territory of the Republic... ... Wikipedia

Rodents Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibi ... Wikipedia

Black-tailed dormouse Black-tailed dormouse ... Wikipedia

Garden dormouse ... Wikipedia

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

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 day mode, 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. In addition to acute vision and an excellent sense of touch, dormouse are 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. They reach the largest size (in relation to the body) in 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, a small number of cubs in the litter (from 3 to 5), long hibernation and the associated limited 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 Dormice 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 dormouse in the wild love to hide and sleep in shelter, for each type of dormouse it is necessary to place a wooden or ceramic house in the 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 the summer heat, drinkers should be checked regularly and filled as many times as needed: your 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 glass jar with a lid - this will protect it from moisture, dust and insects.

Hazel Dormouse: the most touching

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 for a very 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

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, it is categorically not recommended for inexperienced owners to have both garden and forest dormouse, 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

“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 this is more likely taste preferences rather 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 an 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.

The African dormouse is an ideal 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. A small child will run over, injure, lose control of 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)

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 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.

Sonya the regiment is the most major representative 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 territories, fenced with a high smooth wall, preventing dormouse from getting out and thieves from getting in. Behind the fence there were many hollow trees fruit trees, as well as special shelters in which dormouse could hide and breed offspring. 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.

The dormouse is very gluttonous; it 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 of 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”.