What is this cute little rodent?
 

My mother sent photos of a little rodent that has been helping itself to sunflower seeds in one of her feeders (this is in France). We can't find any wild European rodents which match. My sister suggested that it might be an escaped gerbil. What do you think? The tail is hairy, which eliminated most of the 'wild' options.

If it is a gerbil then my mother will try to catch the poor thing, she said it's not scared of her when she gets near it.

Looks like a gerbil to me. Cute little guy!

Ditto.

I would guess that, as well, and it will not take well to winter over there.

I don't think I've heard the words "cute" and "rodent" used in the same sentence before.

You don't think those big dark eyes are cute?? If the rodent is outside and not destroying anything that is mine, I don't care. And if it's a gerbil, it most definitely falls in the category of cute rodent! :)

Since everyone seems to agree, my mother is going to try to catch it next time she spots it in the feeder. She has an old hamster cage in the basement to put it in. Only trick is catching it before one of the many neighborhood cats does...

I just scrolled through a bunch of photos of gerbils and I didn't see a single one that looked nearly as cute as "yours" does in the second pic. It's like the Nermal of gerbils.

100% not a gerbil.......eyes ae positioned too far forward. Gerbils eyes are very much on the side of their head. I believe you have something a bit more exotic.

Subrosa...you always leave us dangling. What do you suggest then?

I have no idea what it is but agree with the word "cute".