The dormouse's 7-month hibernation is one of nature's most remarkable adaptations — but climate change is disrupting the hibernation cycle in ways that directly compromise individual dormouse welfare.
Dormouse welfare during hibernation is critically affected by temperature stability. Natural hibernation involves deep torpor where a 15g dormouse burns only enough energy to survive 7 months. When mild spells interrupt torpor, dormice arouse — a process costing significant energy. Multiple arousals per winter can deplete fat reserves to the point where the dormouse cannot survive to spring. Climate change increasing the frequency of mild winter spells creates this welfare crisis for individual hibernating dormice. Nest box schemes monitoring dormouse occupancy provide annual welfare data — boxes checked in spring reveal which individuals survived. Boxes with deep, dry materials in cool stable-temperature locations provide the most welfare-appropriate hibernation conditions.