siebenschläfern (13. 797)

The dormouse (Glis glis—a nocturnal rodent in the squirrel family) is known in German as the above, associated with the long slumber of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, though their hibernation period stretching from September to May is considerably longer than seven months.

We could hear them skittering about in the attic but now they’ve occupied the basement in preparation for their long winter’s nap. The common name of the European edible dormouse (presumably from dormir, to sleep) comes from the Roman practise of farming and eating them as a delicacy. Depending on the prevailing mood, such an infestation is a welcome sign as protectors of the home or seen as pests since they do tend to chew cables and insulation, though likely not whilst they hibernate. Attempts have been made to rehouse our guests but we’re not certain they we will succeed—which in the former camp, is OK with us.