The forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula) is a species of rodent in the family Gliridae found in eastern Europe, the Balkans and parts of western Central Asia.
It is categorized as being of least concern in the IUCN List of Threatened Species due to its wide range and stable population trend.
But the main features that this species depends on for choosing a location are the presence of the appropriate food sources as well as good foliage that can be used for a habitat.
The reason why the forests in central Moldova have the highest population density is they provide the largest diversity of food sources which are available throughout the year.
This location also provides the best type of foliage for the forest dormice to build their nests as well as swing from branches.
Its biggest competitors are those species which eat similar types of food and who live in the same kind of habitat.
[5] The range of the forest dormouse is from Switzerland in the west, through central, eastern and southern Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, northward to the Baltic Sea and eastward to the Volga River and the Ural Mountains in Russia.
[4] Isolated populations occur outside this range, including in Israel, central Iran, Afghanistan, the Tien Shan mountains and Sinkiang in China.
[2] The forest dormouse lives in a wide range of habitats, including broad-leaved, mixed and coniferous woodlands.
It is also found in rocky areas, dwarf montane woodland, evergreen shrubland and wood-steppe.
Forest dormice tend to create their natal nests on top of lower tree branches or in the midst of thick shrubbery.
Forest dormice tend to pay great attention to detail when they create these natal nests.
During this period of hibernation, northern dormice will sit on their back legs and curl up into a ball.
For example, forest dormice who live in Israel have a breeding season that starts in March and lasts until December.
However, in Europe breeding season is much shorter as it starts in March and only lasts until the end of August.
[4] When it comes out of hibernation in the spring, the forest dormouse eats small invertebrates, baby birds, buds, shoots and the green parts of plants.
Sixty percent of young individuals and the majority of elderly adults (over the age of four) do not survive the winter.
[5] However, due to individuals being extremely careful not to travel away from brushy cover forest dormice are difficult prey to find.
[7] Forest dormice may have a negative impact for humans due to raiding fruit orchards and chewing on the bark of coniferous trees.
The different communication methods that forest dormice use are visual, tactile, acoustic, and chemical.
The different perception methods that forest dormice use are visual, tactile, ultrasound, and chemical.
[5] This species is considered endangered in the Czech Republic and as rare in a majority of the other European countries.
In addition, a country may choose to create a national law or program in order to further provide methods to make sure this species is protected.
This is a reintroduction program whose purpose is to place captive-bred dormice in locations where the population has been dwindling.