19/09/2026
We had a rather lovely wildlife surprise while eating supper outside Casa Christabel this evening! 🌙
Something was making an extraordinary noise in the undergrowth — rather like a wild boar — although we strongly suspect that was Jorge, our resident hedgehog, crashing about! 🦔
Meanwhile, another little visitor was helping itself to the ripe figs. Gary described it as looking somewhere between a mouse and a rat, with enormous black eyes. After a little detective work, we discovered that our fig thief was a lirón careto, known in English as a garden dormouse.
Garden dormice live throughout Málaga province, from coastal areas to the mountains. They are found in woodland and scrub but are also quite at home in gardens, orchards and fruit trees — so our fig tree must feel like an all-you-can-eat buffet!
They are nocturnal and excellent climbers, with large rounded ears, a long furry tail and a distinctive black “bandit mask” around their eyes. Although they are rodents, they are omnivores and eat fruit, seeds, insects and even snails.
We have no idea how long ours has been visiting, as they spend the daytime tucked away in nests or sheltered hiding places and usually emerge after dark. Fortunately, they are so ridiculously cute that they are very welcome to share our figs.
Casa Christabel appears to have acquired another resident — although this one may need a name too! Any suggestions? 😂
