Lérot - Eliomys Quercinus - Garden-Dormouse

The Lérot is smaller than the Loir with a total maximum length of 27cm, has darker grey / brown fur on the back with a white underneath and white feet and a black band which runs from the nose though the eyes. The tail has fine fur and terminates in a black and white tuft. Large ears. 

Less common than Loir, they are found in similar habitats throughout the whole of France; they are sedentary and rarely travel more than 150 metres from their nest site. They are also less agile and not such good climbers. 

They are nocturnal, but can also be active around dawn and during daylight hours, with a diet that is more carnivorous than the Loir, eating insects, small mammals, baby birds, snails, lizards and eggs, as well as fruits and berries. 

Photos. Lérot-Eliomys Quercinus-Garden-Dormouse

Their nest and its situation is much the same as the Loirs being constructed from constructed from coarse vegetation with an entrance in the side, its lining is made from softer material, fur, feathers, moss and grass. As with Loir they will also use bird nest boxes as the hole size is more suitable to them. Reproduction takes place in early summer and again later in the year, this is followed by a gestation period of about three weeks when 4 or 5 young are born.

The hibernation period is the same as Loir and will often commence when the temperature is as high as 8° C. Heart beat can almost stop during hibernation and again they are subject to extremely high population losses as a result of predation during this period. Maximum life span is 5 years and although there isn’t much information available about them in the wild it’s likely that 2 or 3 years is more likely.

English language users in France should not confuse either the Loir or the Lérot with the Hazel dormouse Muscardinus Avellanarius Muscardin which is the only Gliridae (or Dormouse) that has full protection status in France  Species information here