Dormouse

[BillyPilgrim]

I'm cheating a bit as this was taken in France the other week, but I thought I'd share it as you don't often get close to these creatures.

We were eating outside under my friend's pagoda and this chap came to join us for tea. He/she was as bold as brass and would let me almost touch him. So I fetched the camera, put the flash on and got a few pics on him tucking into some ham that one of the other guests put down for him.

I was surprised how big they are. This one was hamster-size and my friends reckoned that it isn't fully grown yet.

[The Woodman]

Lovely image, I think it's a Garden Dormouse - Eliomys quercinus, similar to our non-native Edible or Fat Dormouse - Glis glis.

These are not found in the UK unless anyone knows to the contrary.

[Jackaroo]

As it's an edible dormouse I'm wondering - did it stay for breakfast?

Very nice photo, by the way.

[david156]

thats cute

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by BillyPilgrim

Aww, he's lovely

Tracey

[thunder]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Lovely image, I think it's a Garden Dormouse - Eliomys quercinus, similar to our non-native Edible or Fat Dormouse - Glis glis.

These are not found in the UK unless anyone knows to the contrary.

Yes, definitely Eliomys.

As for being found in Britain, there is a record on the NBN Gateway from Bedfordshire, but I haven't got access to the full data. I also know of another record from Kent, which may have been an escaped pet.

Also there is a record from Roman remains at York of Eliomys bones.

Make of these reports what you will but I suspect the species is not native in Britain currently.

henrya

[GME]

Aw, cute! Does look like a Hamster with big ears though lol