WHAT’S GRAVITY?

In spring the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) awakens from hibernation and begins feasting on its favorite seasonal foods: flowers, catkins, and the tender young cones of coniferous trees. Later, in preparation for the next winter, the little creatures will turn to berries, nuts, and soft fruits. Even when it’s not hibernating, a dormouse loves to sleep (its name comes from the French word dormeuse, “female sleeper”). Dormice have sharp claws and grasping toes, so they are very good at climbing. The wee rodents weigh less than an ounce and can quickly scurry up a tall plant, no matter how thin it is, to avoid a predator or to gather nuts, berries, and fruit.