Suninfrance Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Saw this, nicking the poppy seeds from my window bird feeder today: [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Dormouse.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Dormouse1.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Dormouse2.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Doormouse?http://planetepassion.com/loir_gris_and_lerot.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I've seen something like this ... I believe it's called a loir. Sort of like a dormouse. Someone told me that the ancient romans used to eat them and call them 'edible dormice'. Anyway, if it has a really bushy tail then it is could be a loir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Whatever it is, it has a serious case of the cutes. Nice pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted June 24, 2008 Author Share Posted June 24, 2008 It certainly is a dormouse - you can just see it's bushy tail above it's head. Even though I was using a zoom, I did manage to get quite close to it, before it ran off.It was so cute while it was shelling the poppy seeds. Cute as it is though, I don't want to encourage it. Not with 5 cats around. At least now I know what's running up and down my bedroom roof at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbykins Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 It's actually called a Garden Dormouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Edible or Fatty dormouse!! It's the Lérot that's called a Garden dormouse, see the link above from Clair.[:D]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Nice roasted, coated in honey and rolled in poppy seeds. According to the Romans... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Framboise Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Now I know we have monsieur Lerot stomping about in our grenier and not Loir.We have caught three now in humane traps and released them some distance from the house, but I don't know what they meant about not being good climbers - he must be Edmund Hillary the Lerot to get up into our grenier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 The climbing thing is relative, they are not such good climbers as Loir, that's not the same as being bad climbers.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Framboise Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 The little devils here are climbing up vertical stone walls to access our grenier three floors up - there is no other way up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 The little fella is back again today and having a feast. He doesn't seem to notice that I am within inches of him (or her). Because he is on the other side of the glass, I can get really close to watch him. He is just so cute.[IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Dormouse6.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Dormouse3.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Dormouse8.jpg[/IMG]What I don't understand is why he is feeding in the daylight and in the heat as I thought they were noctural creatures?Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Strangely enough it's because it's hungry and this year there is little food for them "in the wild" so they will take whatever there is and whenever they can.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 Seems the way of things. Normally the birds cut down on their feeding from the feeders at this time of year, but they are still pecking away at what gets put out, but now they are having to share with the dormouse.Even the Jays have found a way to balance on the fat ball feeder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 this posting prompted me to find an old issue of my favourite magazine 'La Salamandre', aug/sept 05 No 169 - www.salamandre.chit's a great publication for all animal lovers, they also produce great DVD's, guides, etc.That issue gives excellent info on differences between 'loir, lerot and muscardin'. Sadly only published in French.Apparently the edible doormouse sleeps for 7 months, and is called equivalent or sevensleeper in German. It is still caught for food in vast numbers in Slovenia. However, it is not a good idea to actually encourage them, as they can cause mayhem with insulation, etc. I was really shocked when friends from Burgundy proudly announced that they had got rid of the ones in their loft- and would never encourage this - but would advise not doing anything to invite them in! Apparently they are absent in northern and western France. La Salamandre has fantastic nature drawings and pictures - do hope some of you will become addicted. By the way, a lovely expression 'dormir comme un loir' = sleeping like a log! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now