Dragon dweller recognized as the preferred wildlife of gardens this year.
Sneaky Masked Critter Needs a Home
Meet the Garden Dormouse, your new favorite furry friend. This little guy sports a mask that'd make Zorro green with envy... but only during the warmer months! Unfortunately, the garden dormouse is thought to be critically endangered, as reported by the Sielmann Foundation in Duderstadt near Göttingen. Fortunately, it's been elected the 'Garden Animal of the Year 2025', bringing it some much-needed attention.
Originally found in many parts of southern and central Germany, this critter prefers deciduous and mixed forests. As a synanthropic species, it can also be spotted in nature-friendly gardens, orchards, or old vineyards. However, its habitat has taken a hit, with regions like the Moselle valley, Taunus, Black Forest, and Harz being its last strongholds.
Why is the garden dormouse fighting for survival? Well, it's losing its forest homes to intensive forestry and urban development. Thankfully, organizations like the environmental protectors of the BUND in the Harz are working to restore lost habitats.
Give it a Home, Get Pest Control!
The garden dormouse isn't just an adorable little ball of fluff; it's a natural slug and insect eater that works diligently in the gardens it calls home. To help this nocturnal, skillful climber, create a "wild corner" in your garden with old trees, shrubs, and stone piles. These serve as perfect retreats for the critter and its nesting materials of choice: grass, moss, and cozy cavities.
By giving the garden dormouse a home, you'll be protecting it from endangerment, while also benefiting from healthier gardens! Who knew helping a critically endangered animal would give you such great pest control?
Want to Help Small Mammals Like the Dormouse?
Although I couldn't find specific information about a "garden dormouse" in need of our help, I can offer suggestions on supporting our small, furry friends, like the Hazel Dormouse.
- Create Natural Habitats: Plant native trees and shrubs, as they provide food and shelter for small mammals, such as the Hazel tree for Hazel Dormice. Keep things dense with brambles for extra cover and protection.
- Add Log Piles and Brushwood: These serve as excellent retreats for small mammals, offering shelter and warmth.
- Limit Pesticides: Cut back on pesticides to maintain healthy insect populations essential to small mammals' diets.
- Provide Food Sources: Leave some areas of your garden unkempt for natural food sources like berries and insects to thrive.
- Hideaways Galore: Use wooden boxes, rock piles, or other enclosures as hiding places, mimicking natural nesting sites for small mammals.
Invest in a home-and-garden makeover that incorporates lifestyle friendly, small mammal-friendly features to attract garden dormice and other small creatures. This includes planting native trees and shrubs, adding log piles, and limiting pesticide use.
By creating a harmonious home-and-garden landscape that benefits both you and small mammals, you'll be contributing to the preservation of Critically Endangered species, like the garden dormouse, while also enjoying the natural pest control services they provide.
