Squirrel like creature

animalb · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 01:04 PM

I watched a TV program over a year ago about a wildlife rescue centre, which I think (I think!) was in Essex. I remember they had a strange creature there that was like a squirrel and apparantly there were a lot of them in the area, and they lived in peoples roofs like squirrels. Can anyone help me identify the animal? Or if someone saw the program, can you remember which part of England the centre was in?

Thanks

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 01:08 PM

This sounds like a Glis Glis or edible dormouse to me.

animalb · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 01:25 PM

Thanks, I think that's the one!

Billy Wobble Dagger · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 01:27 PM

They have a lot of trouble with Glis Glis in and around the Wendover and Tring area. I think thats where Lord some one or other released them, many moons ago.

BWD

dmclean2 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 02:51 PM

If my memory serves me right , the Glis Glis or edible dormouse was introduced into Britain by the Romans as a delicacy food.
Duncan.

Dan Salter · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 03:30 PM

Indeed it was DMclean...

i have never seen on in real life myself though?..i would like to...i think they resemble a kind of chinchilla ish.

Purplepixii · #7 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

i have never seen on in real life myself though?..i would like to...i think they resemble a kind of chinchilla ish.

Aww they are cute!!!
Info on them and how they came about here: The Glis Glis

Dan if you catch a couple can I have 'em please?

naturelover · #8 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 09:45 PM

Very much like a squirrel,never knew they existed.

thunder · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmclean2

If my memory serves me right , the Glis Glis or edible dormouse was introduced into Britain by the Romans as a delicacy food.
Duncan.

Though the Romans apparently ate Dormice, it's by no means certain that the species was Glis glis, and I know of no records of the Romans having introduced them to the wild

henrya

Ukwildlifeo · #10 (**permalink**) 10-03-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunder

Though the Romans apparently ate Dormice, it's by no means certain that the species was Glis glis, and I know of no records of the Romans having introduced them to the wild

henrya

Im quite into my introduced species and I have heard about the romans introducing edible dormice. Apparently they did bring them to britain for food BUT these are not the ancestors of those present here today. These were intoduced in 1902 to tring park and have since spread, but not very far. MInd you this comes from a book published in 1977, so they maybe more widespread now....