Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius

The Dormouse, also called the Hazel or Common Dormouse to distinguish from the Glis glis (Edible Dormouse), is native to much of Europe and a small part of the near East. Rarely seen, it is mainly nocturnal and spends most of its time in trees. It has a furry tail and hibernates for half of the year. It is the only dormouse native to the UK, but both the larger Glis glis and the Garden Dormouse are invasive colonisers from mainland Europe.