Suddenly this routine inspection takes on an air of excitement. The rodent's nocturnal habits and its small population make sightings rare. Finding adults is difficult enough. Finding babies would be nearly miraculous. James reaches into the box and pulls out a nest.
Few mice enjoy the kind of affection that the dormouse inspires.
It's a golden-brown color, and it has a furry tail. The reason most people don't like mice is because they've got slimy tails. But the dormouse is beautiful. It's got lovely big dark eyes and is not slimy at all. The dormouse in James' hand is a hazel dormouse, Britain's only native species.