Eurasian Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgarisAlso known as Red Squirrel, Eurasian Squirrel, Common Red Squirrel
Eurasian Red Squirrels are agile tree-dwellers easily recognized by their prominent ear tufts, bushy tails, and coats that range from bright chestnut to near-black. They spend their days foraging in the canopy, leaping effortlessly between branches to harvest seeds, nuts, and fungi which they cache in the ground or in tree crevices. While still widespread across northern Eurasia, their populations have declined sharply in the British Isles and parts of Italy due to competition and disease from introduced grey squirrels.
- diet
- Conifer seeds, hazelnuts, acorns, fungi, berries, and occasionally bird eggs
- family
- Sciuridae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, competition, and squirrelpox virus from invasive grey squirrels
- life Span
- 3 to 7 years in the wild
LC
Capable of a sharp bite if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
Severely threatened in the British Isles due to habitat loss and the squirrelpox virus carried by invasive grey squirrels.
Avoid disturbing nesting dreys and report sightings to local conservation databases to aid monitoring.- Listen for chatter: They emit sharp chuk-chuk alarm calls and flick their tails when agitated.
- Look up: Search for drey nests, which are spherical structures made of twigs high in tree forks.
- Check feeding signs: Look for stripped pine cones that resemble chewed apple cores on the forest floor.