Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)

The Dormouse is a very small mammal which is also known as a Hazel Dormouse by some.
The species can be found in England and Wales, however more commonly in the more southern counties.

http://www.carleton.edu/departments/ENGL/Alice/Images/footnotes/chapter%207/sleepingdormice.jpg < image reference at this link.

Dormouse are very agile, and active animals, able to climb great heights.
They can spend great deals of their lives living in hedgerows, and trees, so they are more common in the countryside.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Education/Pix/pictures/2008/11/18/dormice-corbis-460x276.jpg < image reference at this link.

Dormice are primarily nocturnal, and are endangered, due to this they are less commonly seen by people than other rodents, such as Mice or Rats.
Dormice have a diet of nuts, berries, and various different insects.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/53284000/jpg/_53284639_53284638.jpg < image reference at this link.

The mouse hibernates every winter, coming awake again in the spring, and summer seasons.
Interestingly these creatures can spend a great deal of their lives asleep.

Below are some sketches I have done of Dormice, in order to practise for the zine.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/common-dormouse











Thomas.