Species · GBIF taxon 8211070
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.
ArborealDiurnalForest-dwelling
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Conifer Seeds
- Hazelnuts
- Fungi
Predators
- European Pine Marten
- Northern Goshawk
- Red Fox
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, competition, and squirrelpox virus from invasive grey squirrels
HabitatsConiferous forests, mixed woodlands, and urban parks
Life span3 to 7 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySciuridae
- SpeciesSciurus vulgaris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a sharp bite if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Distinguished by its smaller size, prominent ear tufts in winter, and deep chestnut-red coat.
- Support conservation
- Avoid disturbing nesting dreys and report sightings to local conservation databases to aid monitoring.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Competitor (c) Diliff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Predator 
Predator (c) Kim, Hyun-tae, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kim, Hyun-tae · cc-by
Competitor (c) Luc Viatour, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) A.Popov, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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