Dormouse, << DAWR mows, >> is a tiny mammal that looks like a small squirrel. Dormice are well known for their sleepy ways. When cold weather arrives, they stock a nest with food and hibernate (sleep through the winter). They may wake up on warm winter days and eat some of their food. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, author Lewis Carroll described a humorous dormouse that could not be kept awake at a tea party.
The dormouse has fine, silky fur, a pointed nose, and big black eyes. Its body is about 3 inches (8 centimeters) long, and so is its tail. Dormice are rodents, and are related to mice and rats. They live in trees and bushes in parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Dormice hunt for food at night, and eat berries, grains, and nuts.
