Edible dormouse

Systematic position: The edible dormouse (Glis glis) is a rodent belonging to the family Gliridae. Although it resembles a small squirrel with a bushy tail, it is strictly nocturnal and primarily arboreal, making it a challenging pest to manage in agricultural environments and orchards.

Affected crops: This rodent causes significant damage to various fruit and nut crops. It is particularly notorious for raiding orchards planted with apples, pears, peaches, plums, and grapes. When natural food sources in forests are scarce, dormice frequently migrate into orchards, causing substantial economic losses to fruit production.

Biology and life cycle: The life cycle of the edible dormouse is characterized by a long period of hibernation during winter. They emerge in late spring to feed and reproduce. Females produce one litter per year, usually consisting of several offspring. Throughout the summer and early autumn, they are highly active, feeding extensively to build up the body fat reserves required for their upcoming hibernation.

Nature of damage: Dormice are known for their habit of consuming fruits directly from the branches. They leave distinct bite marks on the surface of the fruit, often hollowing out a significant portion of the flesh. This damage not only destroys the market value of the crop but also invites secondary infections like fungi and bacteria, which lead to rapid decay and further loss of fruit.

Protection measures: Controlling the edible dormouse requires non-lethal and preventative strategies due to their ecological role:

• Installing metal guards or smooth collars around tree trunks to prevent them from climbing.
• Promptly harvesting mature fruit and removing fallen produce from the ground.
• Using ultrasonic deterrent devices to create an environment uncomfortable for the rodents.
• Encouraging natural predators, such as owls, by providing nesting boxes in the orchard area.
• Applying physical exclusion netting over high-value fruit trees during the ripening season.