is edible dormouse really edible?

[KeenTeen17]

is the edible dormouse really edible? if not WHY on earth is it called that?

[ellen h]

I believe the romans used to eat them,that was what I was told.
Could be wrong though-I expect someone here will know if thats right or not
ellen

[Dogghound]

Yes they used to be eaten by the romans that is why they have got this name. It was introduced into the UK in 1902.

[thunder]

Well, I guess almost anything is edible if you are hungry enough (apparently some people even eat rice pudding for enjoyment), but yes, it seems that the Romans ate dormice, though it is not completely certain that 'our' Edible Dormouse (Glis glis) is the same species that the Romans ate.

henrya

[Ian White2000]

The Edible or fat dormouse (the scientific name Glis glis comes from the latin gliscere - to grow) were certainly eaten by the Romans. They use to keep them in terracotta jars and fatten them on walnuts. In an age when there was no refridgeration they kept well as they hibernated for 7 months of the year and when they were cooked were self basting with their high fat reserves. A perfect sized Roman snack. Although they are a protected European species they are still hunted in certain areas in Europe where populaton densities are high enough for them to be considered a pest. However in other parts of the continent they are an endangered species mainly due to habitat fragmentation rather than hunting.
They were introduced in this country in 1902 and their main population is centred around Tring in Hertfordshire. They regulary show up in some houses where they can cause considerable nuisance and damage. If you do have a Glis problem please inform your local council, do not try to deal with it yourself. It is illegal to release Glis into the wild in England and it is very important that the popultion remains confimed to the Ting area.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Ian White2000

The Edible or fat dormouse (the scientific name Glis glis comes from the latin gliscere - to grow) were certainly eaten by the Romans.

The identification of the dormice that the Romans ate with any particular species can only be an assumption. The discovery in 1983 of a few skeletal remains of the Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) in the excavation of Roman deposits in York opens up the possibility that they ate that species as well (or perhaps instead of - who knows). Also, apparently, at least one Roman writer describes dormice as 'golden', which hardly applies to Glis glis, but Eliomys does have areas of gingerish fur on the back. I have never tasted either species, so can't comment on their relative edibility!

henrya

[Rob_D]

I heard that if you are plagued by Edible Dormice you get caught in a legal stalemate. If you trap them, you must not release them as they are legally a pest species in the UK. But you cannot legally kill them either as they are protected under EU law. Is this right?

[RobinP]

I think councils can get a licence from DEFRA for the 'trapping and humane destruction' of glis glis.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Ian White2000

They were introduced in this country in 1902 and their main population is centred around Tring in Hertfordshire. They regulary show up in some houses where they can cause considerable nuisance and damage.

I've seen lots of young trees with bark damaged by glis glis in Wendover Woods (near Tring).

Apparently, if a glis glis is living in a hole in a tree, you bang on the trunk, it will poke its head out to see what's going on!

Jim

[Phungus]

one Roman writer describes Dormice as 'golden', which hardly applies to Glis glis

Untill they are thoroughly roasted