How 23,000 Edible Dormice Became a Problem for Britain The story of the edible dormouse's rise to infamy in Britain is a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of human curiosity.
In 1902, a few hundred of these furry critters were released into the wild at Tring Park, sparking a fascination with exotic wildlife among the landed gentry.
Over a century later, that tiny introduction has ballooned into a national problem, with an estimated 23,000 edible dormice now thriving in the Chiltern Hills.