dormouse

Everyday

A dormouse is a small furry animal like a mouse with a long fluffy tail, which lives in woods and sleeps through the winter (hibernates). tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons in the UK and Europe, dormice are known for hibernating for months; they are rare and protected. In stories, the dormouse at the Mad Hatter's tea party in Alice in Wonderland keeps falling asleep. Phrases: sleepy as a dormouse, hazel dormouse.

Examples

• The dormouse sleeps all through the winter. tree →
• A dormouse has a fluffy tail. tree →
• Dormice eat hazelnuts and berries. tree →
• In Alice in Wonderland, the dormouse falls asleep at the tea party. tree →
• Dormice are rare in Britain. tree →
• The dormouse curled up into a tiny ball. tree →
• The dormouse, of course, was the biggest of all the creatures. tree →

Note

Plural: dormice (like mouse, mice). A dormouse is a rodent but not a true mouse. Dormice are protected in the UK; it is against the law to disturb them.