Have you ever heard of a dormouse? If you read it as “dor-mouse,” you might guess it’s similar to a mouse. Dormice are small, furry mammals that are known to be nocturnal, which means they’re active at night and sleep during the day. These creatures are well known for their long periods of sleep and are often found napping in cozy nests made of grass and leaves.

Unlike regular mice, dormice are excellent climbers. They spend most of their time up in trees, shrubs, and bushes. They love to snack on fruits, berries, nuts, and even insects, just like a squirrel’s diet. Because of their sleepy environment, they often go unnoticed, helping to spread seeds and keeping insect populations balanced.

Unfortunately , dormice are becoming endangered. One major reason is habitat loss. Humans cut down forests to make space for buildings, roads, and paper products. Since dormice live in trees, losing their homes makes it hard for them to survive. as warmer temperatures and unusual weather affect their hibernation cycles and food supply.

On top of that, fewer dormice are being born because their living conditions are getting worse. Without safe places to live and raise babies, their population continues to shrink.

It’s important to protect forests and plant more trees so that dormice and other endangered animals can live safely and not become extinct.