Bilche Vienna

Dormice live mainly in trees and shrubs in deciduous and mixed forests, along forest margins, in hedgerows and in dense undergrowth. They are strictly nocturnal and skilled climbers. Their defining trait is an extended hibernation that can last from October through April or May, depending on species and weather. During this period body temperature and heart rate drop dramatically. Their diet includes buds, fruits, nuts and fungi, supplemented by insects and occasionally bird eggs.

The protection status is the decisive legal fact for hunters. Dormice do not fall under the Federal Hunting Act and are governed solely by nature conservation law. The edible dormouse is listed as specially protected under Annex 1 of the Federal Species Protection Ordinance. The hazel dormouse is additionally listed in Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive and therefore strictly protected across Europe. The garden dormouse is classified as near threatened by the IUCN, with its range having contracted significantly over recent decades.

For anyone practising hunting, reliable identification against rats or true mice matters. Dormice are recognisable by their large eyes, small rounded ears and, in most species, a bushy tail. If they are encountered in hunting infrastructure such as high seats or feed stores, they may not be trapped or killed. Any conflict must be referred to the competent nature conservation authority.