Meet the Isle of Wight dormouse that climbed into a bird feeder, stuffed itself silly, and was 'too chubby to get out'.

So it did the only sensible thing - went to sleep and waited for rescue.

I mean, c'mon. We've all done it, right?

These adorable images (by the Islander that found him wedged) went viral when they were sent to the Hampshire Dormouse Group - along with a call for advice from a concerned Islander - and were later posted on social media.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Catherine Hadler, from the volunteer-run wildlife group, wrote on Facebook: "The dormouse has entered the bird feeder and eaten so much food that it was too chubby to get out.

"This made my week.

"What a chunk. Look at him!

"Safe to say he will survive hibernation.

"I messaged back how and where to release it and they successfully sent him rolling on his way!"

The Hampshire Dormouse Group works to protect this priority species.

Shockingly, hazel dormouse populations in Britain have declined by 51 per cent since the Millennium.

They are under threat from a loss of established habitat - whether it has been removed altogether, under-managed, or split up by new developments, which destroy safe hedgerow and woodland corridors.

Sapling trees planted to replace the lost habitats are no substitute, said the Hampshire Dormouse Group, which warned if a population is cut off and isolated, it will die out, or lose its genetic diversity.

Scroll down to find out how to help...

Isle of Wight County Press:

How to help...

  • Volunteer with conservation charities that help manage the countryside.
  • Log sightings of dormice on the National Dormouse Database, with a photo and/or confirmed ID by a local dormouse group.
  • Join the Hampshire Dormouse Group in time to join a unique mapping project which starts in the spring.