Edible dormouse

Edible dormice are so called because the Romans snacked on them, keeping them in special jars and fattening them up with chestnuts and acorns for the table. Their bushy tails lend a squirrel-like appearance that is further enhanced by their dexterity in climbing and leaping through the trees of European forests. As the weather cools down during late autumn, edible dormice go into hibernation in underground tunnels, often in family groups. During this time their body heat drops by 98% and they breathe between one and three times per minute. They are not native to Britain. They were introduced to Hertfordshire, England, from Hungary in 1902. Although restricted to the Chiltern Hills, they have spread slowly since their introduction.