Dormouse from the squirrel family. Squirrel Sonya is the star of Novosibirsk: how a girl saved a wild animal from certain death. hazel dormouse lifestyle
Sonya is not only a characteristic of a person who loves to sleep, it is also the name of a cute animal, to which the adjective “kawaii” suggests itself. As a pet, dormouse has recently been confidently pushing stars such as chinchilla or dwarf. With the features of the content of this rodent, we will try to figure it out.
What does it look like?
The dormice or dormice family (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 bare tail and are very similar in appearance to ordinary mice. Species that prefer life on trees have bushy tails and look like. Sometimes these animals are called rat squirrels, but they are completely different from rats. These small rodents are distributed over vast areas. They can be found in Europe, in northern Africa, in Asia Minor and Central, in the Altai Mountains, in Japan. There is also a South African species. 
Did you know? The Japanese dormouse is the smallest in the dormouse family (body size up to 8 cm, weighs about 20 g) and has the ability to run upside down through the branches. It feeds mainly on nectar and pollen.
Oreshnikovaya
Of all the dormouse species, this species is most adapted to life on trees. The body length of the animal reaches 15 cm, the tail is fluffy, with a tassel at the end. The coat of the animal is red, with an ocher or reddish tint. Below it is lighter, has a fawn tint. Hazel dormouse prefers deciduous and mixed forests. She usually arranges several nests on branches or in hollows. He likes to capture birdhouses, and he can expel the birds that have occupied them. The diet consists of plant foods: hazelnuts, chestnuts, acorns, beech and lime nuts, berries and fruits. In autumn, when the air temperature drops to +15 °C, hazel dormouse goes into hibernation, from which it wakes up in April or May.
Sadovaya
This type of dormouse can be identified by a pointed muzzle. The body length of the animal reaches 16 cm. It has a fluffy tail with a tassel at the end, the fur in the upper part of the body is gray or brown, white below, a black strip is observed from the eye to the ear. Favorite habitats of garden dormouse are old gardens, parks and deciduous forests. This species is omnivorous, its representatives, along with a variety of fruits and berries, eat insects, small rodents, chicks, and bird eggs. Nests are preferred to be built on branches or in hollows of trees. Winter hibernation lasts 5-6 months.
Lesnaya
Outwardly, this species resembles 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 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 broad-leaved or mixed forests, arranges dwellings in hollows, on branches, 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 in May.
Polchok
This species is the largest of all dormouse. It can be mistaken for a small squirrel. In length, the body of the animal can reach 20 cm, its tail is fluffy, slightly less than the size of the body. Fur from above can be gray or gray-brown in color, from below the color changes to light gray or white. Dark rings may appear around the eyes. Dormouse dormouse loves broad-leaved and mixed forests. Prefers such areas of the forest, where there are many wild fruit trees and shrubs with edible fruits (hazelnut, hawthorn, honeysuckle, etc.). Nests, as a rule, equip in hollows. Sometimes it can build a nest among stones or under fallen trees. Often settles in birdhouses, expelling birds from them. The regiment feeds exclusively on plant foods - fruits, seeds, berries. It hibernates in autumn, awakens only in May, and even in June.
Did you know? Aristotle described the dormouse and garden dormouse. He called these animals "eleos", which can be translated from ancient Greek as "beautiful" or "graceful".
Features of the content of the house
The necessary conditions
A spacious cage is suitable for keeping this little animal, and an aviary is even better. If the dimensions of the enclosure allow, 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 pipe segment into the prepared mink.
Important! Cleaning the cage or enclosure where the animals are kept should be done daily. Periodically it is necessary to carry out disinfection. Without these procedures, animals can get sick, and the cage will become a source of an unpleasant odor.
Requirements for the cage and its placement
The minimum size of a cage suitable for keeping dormouse is 50 × 30 × 30 cm. It must be made entirely of metal, otherwise the rodent will easily ruin it. The best cage shape is rectangular, which is easier to clean. The cage must be equipped with an autodrinker, a feeder, 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 located in a place well lit by daylight, but it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Do not place electrical devices and heating devices nearby. 
Pet feeding
The basis of the diet of domestic dormouse is plant foods. These are various fruits, nuts, cereals, grains. Periodically, animal food should be given: eggs, cottage cheese, boiled meat, insects. From insects, animals prefer flour worms. Animals eat often and in large quantities, this can even lead to unwanted obesity. However, on the eve of hibernation, excess fat will not hurt animals.
Caring for dormouse is simple, you only need to clean the cage daily, feed and water the animals on time. The animals are in good health, but they can get sick. Signs of the disease are the refusal of the animal to eat, untidy fur, apathy. In this case, you need to show the pet to the veterinarian.dormice breeding
Dormouse's reproductive instinct wakes up in the spring, immediately after hibernation is completed. Females carry babies 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 move them away from their parents. Otherwise, uncontrolled reproduction of animals may begin.
Sonya at home: pros and cons
In favor of home maintenance, dormouse speaks of their good looks and simple rules of care. The disadvantages can be considered a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, the need for daily cleaning of the cage and falling into hibernation. As we have seen, Sonya is quite easy to keep as a pet. These handsome men can be a good alternative to such "stars" of zoo corners as or chinchillas.
Many of us remember Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and a wonderful scene from this work, which describes how Alice meets Sonya during a tea party. If you think that this is a fictional character and he is just a figment of the imagination of Lewis Carroll, then you are forced to ... please, it is not. Perhaps the author embellished the image of a rodent a little, but it actually exists, and it looks like an ordinary mouse with a fluffy, just like a squirrel (by the way, you can read about the peculiarities of keeping squirrels at home) tail. Moreover, recently this creature can be found more and more often at home - not only Alice's fans start it, but also those who adore all small living creatures and believe that caring for her is much easier than caring for a cat or dog. Is it really? Yes, and how to take care of Sonya in general, how to feed her at home - our publication will be ready to tell you about all this ...
Sony description
Immediately I want to say that these are very small rodents, and an adult dormouse can easily fit in the palm of an adult. Dormouse became domestic quite recently, and this was facilitated by the reduction in the number of dormouse in natural conditions. In order to somehow save these rodents, which, by the way, come in 2 types - with a magnificent tail (they live in trees and live like squirrels), and with a bare tail (live on the ground), they decided to bring them into the Red book, and later began to engage in their home breeding. So, from the conditions of the wild, dormouse got into pet stores and settled in the homes of rodent lovers. To date, 9 genera of dormouse are known, and 28 species, while all of them are part of the dormouse family and belong to the suborder of squirrels, to the order of rodents.
Where do dormouse live in Nature
In nature, dormouse rodents live in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of North Africa, Europe, Asia Minor, Altai and even in the northern regions of Japan and China, in the northern part of Scandinavia and southern Africa - where one single species of African dormouse lives. By the way, most often you can still find protein-like dormouse with a magnificent tail that live on trees. There are even those who never descend to the ground in their entire lives - they live in trees, build nests there, breed ... But ground dormouse, on the contrary, does not paw at trees, they prefer to dig minks at the roots or settle under fallen trunks. There is also a type of garden dormouse, however, they are considered to be pests, as they destroy many useful plants from which you plan to harvest.
What does a dormouse look like
As you may have guessed, mouse-like dormouse is more like, but squirrel-like ones look like squirrels. Both those and others rarely reach sizes of more than 20 centimeters. All of them have round, noticeable ears, as well as large, bulging dark eyes. On their paws they have sharp claws that help tree individuals confidently climb trees. By the way, an interesting feature
some rodents do not have a claw on one of the fingers on the hind foot - and this is not a pathology, rather an anomaly.
The soles of the paws of the dormouse are hard and rough, and if you put a rodent on your palm, you will definitely feel it. The hair of the dormouse is soft, and the pile is long, but not too fluffy, but rather smooth, therefore, long and thick on the tail (its length can reach 17 centimeters), it stands out well. Dormouse color is usually yellowish-gray.
How many years do dormouse live
You will not believe it, but these rodents have a rather rare life expectancy for their own kind - in the wild they can live up to 5 years, and in captivity, with good care - up to 3 years. Who knows, perhaps the answer lies in the fact that dormouse hibernates every winter.
Features of keeping dormouse at home
If you decide to start a sleepyhead at home, you should take care to create the most comfortable conditions for it. By the way, if you want to keep several rodents - no problem, these creatures get along well with each other, the main thing is that the room or cage where they will live is spacious enough for them, otherwise the muscles of the animals will atrophy, they will intensively gain weight and may start to hurt.
For maintenance, it is better to use spacious cages or aviaries in which you can create a natural landscape for dormouse if you cover the bottom with moss or peat, lay out thick branches or snags. Some even plant edible shrubs in these enclosures or plant pots with garden shrubs and grass. Of course, there should be a shelter for hibernation in an aviary or in a cage - for these purposes, a pipe can be suitable, which you insert into a hole dug in advance, which will end in a “nest” - the functions of which will be performed by an insulated box lined with dry grass.
If you do not have the opportunity to provide a spacious aviary to the rodent, you will have to limit yourself to a large cage - here the requirements for its equipment are somewhat different, although quite standard - a retractable tray, filler (you can use sawdust), an autodrinker, bowls, toys - a running wheel, a nest ...
Wherever your dormouse lives - in a cage or in an aviary, it will be necessary to clean daily and periodically disinfect. Otherwise, very soon, an unpleasant smell will begin to emanate from the sleepy home in your house, and unsanitary conditions will arise inside the cage or aviary, which are favorable for the occurrence of various diseases.
Sony cage requirements
Cells made of organic glass and other synthetic materials, although practical and convenient in terms of cleaning, use disinfectants in them with caution.
As for the shape of the cage, then, rectangular is considered the most convenient, while round and multifaceted cages are not practical and not convenient in terms of cleaning, regardless of what material they are made of.
Where is the best place to put a cage with Sonya
A cage with a rodent should be placed away from electrical and heating appliances, and at a distance of at least 20 centimeters from the walls. Drafts and direct sunlight on the rodent's dwelling should be avoided. And, there should be enough light around the cage and inside it - if necessary, you can install additional lighting, taking care in advance that it does not harm the life and health of your dormouse.
Dormouse nutrition
What do dormice eat in captivity
Since, most often, dormouse live on trees, they feed on what can be found on them - these are fruits, nuts, seeds, leaves, small insects. Ground species of rodents love to eat grass, but arboreal species - they sometimes even go to crime - ruin bird nests to eat bird eggs.
How to feed Sonya at home
Taking into account the peculiarities of the natural diet, you can create an appropriate menu for your already pet, including in it an abundance of plant foods, grain mixtures, seeds, fruits, nuts. Sometimes you can pamper dormouse with carrots and bread. You can feed the animal with eggs, boiled meat, milk and cottage cheese, small insects. By the way, according to many owners of these cute little animals, flour worms are a favorite delicacy - you will have to take care of breeding a whole colony for your pet. And, as a vitamin supplement, you can give them rodent vitamins or add fish oil to their main diet.
Also make sure that the rodent always has fresh and clean water in the drinker.
Given the characteristics of dormouse to eat a lot and often, rodent owners need to monitor the portion size and frequency of feeding animals, as they are prone to obesity. But, if your animal is going to hibernate in winter, then gain a little extra weight by autumn - it will be very necessary for him, therefore, the autumn diet should differ in calories from the summer one.
This small animal is very similar to an ordinary mouse, but with a fluffy "squirrel" tail. Externally, there are two types of dormice - mouse-like and protein-like. The former have a bare tail and live on the ground, the latter live in trees. Dormouse are very small animals, an adult animal easily fits in the palm of your hand. They are active mainly at night. They began to domesticate these animals relatively recently, in the last century, this was facilitated by a decrease in the number of individuals of the species. Thanks to the technical progress of the last century, the number of forest zones where these animals live has significantly decreased, and the dormouse was listed in the Red Book, and also began to be bred in 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 a Latin name for the dormouse subfamily, Graphiurinae. In English, "dormouse" sounds like Dormouse, and in German - Siebenschlaefer.
Classification:
Dormouse belongs to the animal kingdom, a type of chordates, a subtype of vertebrates. Dormouse are mammals of the placental subclass. Of course, these are rodents that belong to the squirrel-like, dormouse family. In total, 9 genera and 28 species of these animals are known in nature.
Dormouse Habitat:
These rodents are mostly found in the steppes and forest-steppes. The main regions of their habitat are the northern part of Africa, China and Japan, Altai, Asia Minor. And in southern Africa, even a separate species of animal lives, which is called the African dormouse. Other genera of this rodent prefer cooler climates. The most common dormice are those that live in trees. For example, a dormouse can live all its life on a tree. Tree species settle mainly in hollows or nests, terrestrial ones dig minks near tree roots or fallen trunks. There are also garden species of these animals, they cause great damage to gardening, destroying cultivated plants.
Sony description:
Mouse-like animals, as the name implies, look like mice, and squirrel-like animals look like squirrels. On average, dormice grow up to 10 cm, sometimes there are 20-centimeter individuals. They have cute round ears and beady eyes. Dormouse, thanks to their sharp claws, can cling well to tree bark. In some members of the family, one claw on the hind paw may be missing. If you put the animal on the palm of your hand, you can feel the hard pads on the paws of the animal. The wool of the dormouse is reddish-gray, very soft and long, the hairs are smoothed, reaching a length of 17 cm. In squirrels, a fluffy tail stands out very much. Winter for dormouse is a period of hibernation. As for a rodent, dormouse lives for a relatively long time - in nature up to 5 years, in captivity no more than 3 years.
Sony nutrition:
Tree dormouse feed on what mainly grows and lives on trees. These are nuts, seeds, fruits of trees, small insects. Ground dormouse is more herbivorous, they love different herbs, dandelion leaves, clover, nettles. Dormouse living in trees destroy bird 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 dormouse is kept at home, it is preferable for her to diversify her diet with plant foods - grains, seeds, fruits, nuts, sometimes bread and carrots. Also, do not exclude animal food. A pet can occasionally be pampered with boiled meat, milk, cottage cheese, chicken eggs. And for some species, animal products are even more important in the diet than vegetation. In the feeder of garden and African dormouse, insects and eggs should always be present. It is also possible to breed special flour worms for the full nutrition of dormouse. If you add fish oil to your food, the animal's body will receive even more vitamins and nutrients.
Dormouse reproduction:
From the first month of life, dormouse are ready for reproduction. The mating season begins in the spring. The offspring of females appears mainly once a year. Almost all types of dormouse, except for the 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 the litter, and they feed on mother's milk for up to 3 weeks. Little sleepyheads are very attached to their mother, so you can’t tear them away from her ahead of time, this can be a serious stress for babies. It is curious that dormice take care of their cubs together with their fathers, a “full-fledged” family.
Maintenance and care of dormouse:
Sony are known for their unpretentiousness and peacefulness. They calmly get along with several animals in one aviary 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 dormouse to equip a home that is as similar as possible to the natural habitat. Moss or a layer of peat can be laid on the floor of the enclosure, twigs, bark, stumps can be laid out on it. Edible plants, grass, gooseberry or currant bushes can be grown right in the dormouse's dwelling. For hibernation of these small animals, it is necessary to equip a cozy corner. For this, a pipe leading from a hole to a small box insulated with dry hay is suitable. If a dormouse lives in a cage, it must be equipped with all the attributes necessary for rodents - a drinking bowl, sawdust on the floor, a bowl, a pallet, toys. Dormouse are very fond of messing with their nests, so you can hang a small wooden box in the cage with a set of “building materials”: twigs, hay, etc.
Additionally:
Dormouse is not only very fond of starting as pets. They are also valued for their good coats, like fur animals. The skin of the sony regiment was especially highly valued, at one time special hunts were organized for them. In general, this is a very curious species, the dormouse has an excellent appetite and gains a lot of weight by the autumn period, but still makes large reserves for the winter in its nest.
Just look at these cute little orange-brown animals. Although they belong to the rodent family, they are easily distinguished from their counterparts by their bushy tail.
Dormouse nocturnal animals. They hold the palm for the duration of sleep, carelessly sleeping during the day in a hollow, or a cozy and well-hidden nest. As soon as dusk descends, these funny animals wake up for 2-3 hours to move around and eat. If she smells a predator nearby, she will go to bed again. Bad weather is unlikely to get the little "sloth" out of hiding. It is better to stay warm and dry, albeit not quite full.
In autumn, the animals hibernate as a friendly family in underground burrows or hollows. Animals lie on their backs, covering their tummy with a fluffy tail, like a blanket. Dormouse will sleep for a long time - up to 8 months. During hibernation, the heart rate slows down and the animal's body temperature drops, which helps conserve energy.
They wake up hungry in the spring and go for food to gain weight and make up for the loss of energy. Animals climb trees well. With pleasure they eat swollen buds on trees and young green shoots. Dormouse feed on various foods: nuts and berries, insects and aphids, destroy the nests of small birds, feasting on delicious eggs.
The habitat of the animals is Europe (except the North) and Africa. They prefer broad-leaved and mixed forests. They spend most of their lives above the ground, on tree branches.
In their appearance, they are similar to squirrels, only smaller in size. The body length is 7 - 18 cm, and one animal weighs about 50 grams. The tail is quite long, 6 - 7cm. On the muzzle there are small rounded ears, a long mustache, eyes large and round, black. On the paws are long fingers with sharp claws. The nose is pink-brown. The belly and neck of the dormouse are lighter than the main color.
These are territorial animals. A well-developed hearing of the animal will let you know about encroachments on the possessions of its owner. They are solitary animals, and they create a pair for procreation. Offspring bring 1 - 3 times a year, depending on the species. After winter sleep, having found each other, the female is preparing to become a mother. She looks for a secluded place, then builds a nest, lovingly covering it with fluff and soft grass.
Pregnancy will last about a month, and small cubs will be born. Usually in a litter from 3 to 10 babies, they are born naked, blind and completely helpless. They will feed on mother's milk for about a month; eyes open only after 2.5 weeks. Mom's care and affection will not last long, after 35-40 days, the children must leave their home, and after some time find a suitable territory for themselves. It should be noted the efforts of the father of the family, he also takes care of the offspring.
In the wild, dormice live for about three years.