In the Czech Republic, the garden dormouse is classified as a critically endangered species. Its populations are declining mainly due to the loss of natural habitat. In the Czech Republic, it occurs in western and northwestern Bohemia, the western edge of the Brdy Highlands, the Šumava Mountains, and the Elbe Sandstone Protected Landscape Area. In Moravia, the last confirmed sighting was in the 1980s.
In June 2024, the first three breeding animals arrived at Zlín Zoo from Warsaw Zoo. They were placed in a new enclosure within the zoo's breeding facility. A month later, keepers were pleasantly surprised by the birth of seven young. In May 2025, two more breeding groups were brought in from Amsterdam Zoo, which specializes in dormouse breeding. The overall goal of the project is to reintroduce the garden dormouse into the wild in Moravia. The White Carpathians Protected Landscape Area was selected as the ideal release site in cooperation with the Czech Nature Conservation Agency.
The release will take place in several stages. First, acclimatization enclosures will be built in selected locations to help the animals adapt to the environment. Some individuals will be fitted with tracking devices that will allow researchers to monitor their movements after release. Interestingly, these tracking devices weigh only 2 grams.
The garden dormouse can be identified by its gray-brown to reddish-brown back and head, with a sharply contrasting pure white underside. A distinctive dark stripe runs from the eye to the neck, giving it the appearance of a masked bandit. Its tail is shorter than its body, and its ears are relatively large for its size.
In the wild, the garden dormouse is not strictly bound to forest habitats. It can also be found near forest cottages, haylofts, feeding stations, gardens, vineyards, clearings, and solitary buildings. It also seeks out rocky outcrops and scree slopes. This small rodent, weighing up to 140 grams, prefers to stay close to the ground, where it builds its nests among rocks or in shrubs. It is primarily nocturnal. Although classified as a rodent, 80% of its diet consists of animal matter—including insects, invertebrates, small mammals, bird eggs, and chicks. It also consumes various fruits and tree seeds.
In local ecosystems, garden dormice play an important role. Not only are they part of the food chain, but they also help disperse many species of plants and trees, thereby promoting plant diversity in their habitats.
Garden dormice hibernate for six months of the year. They go into hibernation in late October and wake up around April or May. During this long winter sleep, they can lose up to 50% of their body weight. Their nests are large, dry, and well-lined with leaves and grass to protect them from harsh frosts. They make use of tree hollows, underground burrows, as well as cabins and log houses.
