Hazel Dormouse
EN

Hazel Dormouse

Muscardinus avellanarius

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_dormouse

Overview

The hazel dormouse or common dormouse is a small dormouse species native to Europe and the only living species in the genus Muscardinus.

The Hazel Dormouse is declining primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agricultural intensification, woodland clearance, and poor woodland management practices. Climate change and the loss of traditional coppice management have further reduced the availability of suitable dense understory habitat that this species requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

The hazel dormouse is native to northern Europe and Asia Minor. It is the only dormouse native to the British Isles, and is therefore often referred to simply as the "dormouse" in British sources, although the edible dormouse, Glis glis, has been accidentally introduced and now has an established population in South East England. Though Ireland has no native dormouse, the hazel dormouse was...

TERRESTRIAL· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Hazel Dormouse classified as Endangered?
Hazel Dormouse is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Hazel Dormouse is declining primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agricultural intensification, woodland clearance, and poor woodland management practices. Climate change and the loss of traditional coppice management have further reduced the availability of suitable dense understory habitat that this species requires.
Where does Hazel Dormouse live?
Hazel Dormouse occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Hazel Dormouse?
The main threats to Hazel Dormouse are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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