Breeding of the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius L.) in Lithuania /

Abstract

Data on the breeding of M. avellanarius were gathered from two sites in Lithuania in 1981-1993 by regular checking of nestboxes and marking the dormice captured. During the study 374 breeding females were captured and 319 litters found. In Lithuania the breeding season occupies nearly the whole summer period, and adult females may have two litters per season. Mean litter size was 3.9 +- 0.1 juveniles (n = 319) and it depends upon the age of females. The largest litters were detected in May, the smallest in July