A Tiny Surprise in the Recycling Bin
On a bitter winter day, a Good Samaritan walked out to take care of their recycling — only to notice something unusual curled up at the very bottom of an empty bin. At first glance, it looked like a clump of leaves. But on closer inspection, it turned out to be a tiny dormouse, fast asleep in the wrong place.
Dormice are known for their long winter hibernations, usually nesting in hollow tree trunks, thick hedgerows, or leafy shrubs until spring. But this little one had accidentally chosen a cold, unsafe bin as her “home.” Without intervention, she may not have survived the freezing months.
Thankfully, the person who found her contacted the Wildlife Aid Foundation, ensuring that her story didn’t end there.
Meet Walnut: The Sleepy Survivor
The foundation welcomed the tiny mouse with open arms and gave her a name as sweet as her personality: Walnut. Before letting her resume her deep sleep, the rescuers checked her condition carefully. They provided fluids and food, making sure her body was strong enough to continue hibernation.
Then, they tucked her into an artificial nest, a cozy, leaf-filled space designed to mimic the warmth and safety of her natural environment. Walnut seemed content with her new home — and almost immediately drifted back into her winter slumber.
For the next 102 days, Walnut remained curled up, completely unaware of the world moving on around her. Staff members checked on her regularly, marveling at how peacefully she slept through the coldest months of the year.
A Long Nap Comes to an End
After more than three months of uninterrupted sleep, Walnut finally stirred. At first, it was just small signs — a stretch here, a twitch there — but then, one day, she opened her tiny, shining eyes for the very first time since her rescue.
Over the next two weeks, she became increasingly active, nibbling at food, grooming herself, and exploring the safe environment her rescuers had created. It was a relief for the staff to see her full of energy again, especially because the dormouse is a red-listed species, meaning her kind faces serious threats in the wild.
To the Wildlife Aid team, Walnut wasn’t just another rescue — she quickly earned the title of their “cutest patient of the year.”
Back to the Wild Where She Belongs
Once Walnut had fully recovered and shown that she was strong enough, her rescuers knew it was time to say goodbye. With the help of the Surrey Dormouse Group, Walnut was released into a dormouse-friendly habitat, filled with the trees and shrubs her species depends on.
It was an emotional farewell for the people who had cared for her so diligently, but also a joyful one. They had given her exactly what she needed: warmth, safety, and a second chance at freedom.
Walnut may never know how close she came to losing her life in that recycling bin, but thanks to compassionate strangers and tireless rescuers, she is back where she belongs — in the wild, where every hazel leaf and branch is part of her new beginning.
