It looks like a hamster! Does it have a little tiny tail or a long tail? If it has a tiny tail, it is a hamster. It would be the Syrian type. Of course, it would be easier to confirm this with a picture of the little guy from the side.

Long tail. Look at the first photo.

Definitely not a hamster, then. It does look like some pet that has either been released or gotten loose. I did not think it was a gerbil as it did not look at all like the ones we have had. However, who knows?

Perhaps in the family of flying squirrel/sugar glider?

You know the eyes look right for a sugar glider. Camille, please have your mom.catch it, it'll die in the cold!

Something exotic that would be native here or really exotic? I'm been looking at tons of webpages about wild rodents in France and western Europe, but can't find anything like that. If it's wild it should stay wild.

---------- Post added at 07:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 PM ----------

If it's an escaped pet, I wonder where from. My mother lives in a tiny village in the hills and her hamlet has only 5 other houses, one of which is rather far. Should be easy enough to go ask the neighbors about it. And the hamlet isn't on the main road, so unlikely to be a dumped pet.

---------- Post added at 07:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------

Going on the sugar glider idea, I ended up finding something which is not a glider but a good match. Iis it a Dormouse maybe??? Hazel dormouse - Wikipedia
But they are supposed to be hibernating at this time of year.

It does really look like a hazel dormouse. I have never heard of these before. I just spent a few minutes looking at pictures of them and they are really adorable!

Does it eat orchids?:biggrin:

I raised mice and gerbils as pets as a child, and I also agree it's not a gerbil for sure, but is SO cute! Because I had rodents as pets , I find it VERY difficult to trap or kill them, unless I HAVE to due to damage from infestation. He looks pleased with himself : )

For sure!