EDIBLE DorMOUSE

(DORMICE / Glis Glis)

Although an attractive creature, the edible dormouse can cause considerable damage to property, trees and crops. Professional pest controllers require a licence to remove dormice. They are considered a pest due to the damage that they can cause in domestic, commercial and farm environments.

Hawthorn Pest Control holds a Licence to remove dormice. The edible dormouse is considered a pest as it can cause significant damage to property, crops and trees. Our pest control team can legally trap & remove Dormice and will provide advice on proofing to keep future activity to an absolute minimum.

The Edible Dormouse (glis glis), also known as the fat dormouse, is similar in appearance to the grey squirrel. The head and body are about 150mm (6") long and the bushy tail is about 125mm (5") long. The fur is silvery grey, shading to a light colour underneath and there is a ring of black hair around each eye.

Edible Dormice are native to Europe and were introduced in the UK in 1902 by Walter Rothschild as part of a wildlife collection at his Tring Park home in Hertfordshire. It is not known how, but a number of the animals escaped into the wild and through breeding they have establish a population outside of Tring Park. Today, the Edible Dormouse is confined to the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire, although its radius is gradually expanding and it is common to find Edible Dormice in Beaconsfield, Aylesbury and Luton. However, it appears that although the population and radius is expanding, the Edible Dormouse is confined to Buckinghamshire.

The Edible Dormouse hibernates for 7 months of the year, October to April, and it is common to find them hibernating in house roofs, sheds and outbuildings. The Edible Dormouse is an attractive creature, although it can also cause considerable damage to property, trees and crops. When edible dormice enter houses they cause damage by gnawing through electric wires and cables, wooden structures of roofs and have also been known to contaminate water supplies.

The Edible Dormouse is now known as a pest and suitable methods of control and management are required, especially in a domestic environment. The Edible Dormouse is protected under Section 11(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) in that certain methods of killing or taking are prohibited except under licence. Hawthorn Pest Control has a licence for edible dormice removal and abides by the Terms and Conditions of the Licence.

It is important to note that under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is illegal to release or allow the escape of edible dormice into the wild. For further information on the background of Edible Dormice and the Terms and Conditions of the Licence please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk