Even if dormouse are quite cute rodents, they can quickly develop into a real nuisance in the house. If you want to avoid major damage, you would do well to drive them away. However, they may not be killed, the fundamentally endangered animals are under species protection. That is why it is very important to recognize dormouse. It is relatively easy to confuse them with other rodents that can be fought with poison or traps.
Recognize dormouse
The dormouse, whose zoological name is Glis glis, is a rodent that vaguely resembles a squirrel. Its natural habitat is dense deciduous forests with plenty of undergrowth. This undergrowth offers them the necessary protection against cold, wet and predators. The animals usually also build their nests there. For hibernation, they create tunnels in the forest floor, where they then remain for about seven months of the year. The problem is that the natural habitat of dormouse is getting smaller and smaller. It is threatened, among other things, by the trend towards monocultures in our forests, which has been going on for decades. Consequently, the animals look for alternative habitats. The excellent climbers often penetrate the roof trusses of buildings. Ideal living conditions await them there. Access is usually via construction-related openings in the roof. It prefers to nest in the insulation or in the insulation material.
notice: Although Glis glis is no longer threatened with extinction, it is still a protected species. That is why he must not be killed, but rather driven out.
Look
As already mentioned, dormouse bear a certain resemblance to squirrels. Their most distinctive feature is undoubtedly their long, bushy tail. The body itself is best described as mouse-like. In addition to the tail, they differ from mice above all in the large, protruding eyes. The body of a dormouse is about 12 to 19 cm long, the tail length ranges from 10 to 15 cm. The fur of the animals is mostly gray or grey-brown. On the underside of the body it turns yellowish-white. Anyone who actually sees the rodent will usually be able to identify it relatively easily by looking at its tail. However, it is much more likely that traces and legacies such as faeces or urine will be discovered. Strange noises in the area of the roof truss and significant damage to the insulation material can usually tell whether edible dormouse are hanging around in your house.
Sounds
Usually it is initially not exactly identifiable noises that raise the suspicion that a glis glis has nested in the house. These noises can either come from the animals running and gnawing, or they can come directly from them. The rodents communicate with each other through chirping, chirping sounds that can be reminiscent of whistling or squeaking. They emit these sounds up to 100 times in a row. If they are disturbed in their activity or if danger is imminent, they react with rattling, almost whirring sounds, which also serve as a warning for their fellow animals. Since dormouse mostly live in groups, just normal communication between the animals can become a bit of a nuisance.
sense
The presence of a dormouse in the house is usually shown very quickly by certain traces and legacies. These can also come from other rodents such as mice or rats, but if they occur in connection with the noises described above, there is a very high probability that they are actually dormouse. The following traces and legacies are typical:
- small black droppings of feces scattered everywhere
- strong smelling urine puddles
- Gnawing marks on cables and panels
- gnawed fruit scraps
- torn pieces of insulation
- possibly already decomposing snails, eggs or young birds
- heavily chewed pieces of wood or chewed beams
- footprints in the dust
Dormouse have a very pronounced gnawing drive, which is why gnawing marks are relatively common. Paw tracks can be assigned to them very easily because no claws can be seen in the prints. This distinguishes them from mice or rats. In addition, both the front paws and the hind paws can always be found next to each other. If there is suddenly a lot of soft material lying around in the attic that is suitable for nest building, this is also a clear indication. The nest itself is usually well hidden and can usually only be found by chance. Most likely it is in the insulation layer of the roof.
notice: Only an exterminator or a certified pest controller can determine with absolute certainty which rodent infestation it is. He should actually be called if there is a suspicion, since attempts to get rid of the rodent usually fail.
damage
With all understanding for the animals, dormouse should definitely be driven away. They can cause significant damage. For example, the risk of fire increases significantly if power lines are eaten by them. Moisture can also penetrate through gnawed roof insulation, which in turn damages the building fabric. A very unpleasant vermin infestation is also possible. The reason for this are decomposing animals that the rodents have brought in as prey. It is true that dormouse clearly prefer fruit and seeds as food. However, they do not disdain snails, insects, eggs or even young birds.