Glis glis are very cute-looking animals and are also commonly known as the Edible Dormouse or the Fat Dormouse. However, these little furry creatures can actually cause a lot of damage to properties, crops and infrastructures. With summer rapidly approaching, this is the time of year (between June and November) that we begin to see Glis glis. So what are these pests and what problems do they bring?
Glis glis aren’t native to the UK and were introduced by Lionel Walter Rothschild (2nd Baron Rothschild) at his estate near Tring, Hertfordshire, in 1902. Six of them escaped from his collection and spread around Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and now Essex. The six escapees have now become a population of an estimated 30,000!
The Edible Dormouse is originally from Western Europe and some Mediterranean islands. The name edible comes from the Romans who ate them as a delicacy! Thankfully, we didn’t continue that tradition when they invaded our shores with the Glis glis actually being a protected species in the UK. However, in some parts of Slovenia and Croatia they are still seen as a delicacy.
They look very similar to a small, fat, grey squirrel with greyish-brown fur, small ears and a tail. These pests may be small, but they can cause a lot of damage. They should not be confused with the extremely cute Hazel Dormouse – an extremely rare and protected species that is native to the UK and lives entirely outdoors.
If you have a Glis glis problem, you’ll more than likely know about it with their habit of scratching, gnawing and high-pitched squeaks (often during the night with them being nocturnal). They can gnaw through electrical cables, wood and even plasterboard, so you can imagine the amount of damage they can cause. If they do get into your loft, they have the perfect spot to nest and cause a lot of mess while they are doing it. Glis glis have even been known to enter water tanks, leading to contamination which can be a costly fix. It’s not only your home the creatures can wreck; they also damage crops and kill trees by stripping their bark.
Due to the Glis glis being protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, they can only be dealt with by a licensed pest controller. Cleankill has specially licensed pest control technicians who are trained to deal with Glis glis legally and efficiently, so give us a call today: 020 8668 5477.