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Interesting facts about the red squirrel.
The red squirrel is a mammal native to Europe and northern Asia. The UK has 140,000 red squirrels, 75% of which live in Scotland! On average, they can live up to about 6 years, although they are endangered in the wild.
They live in nests called dreys, where their young are born. Baby red squirrels are called kittens.
True to its name, the red squirrel is… red! Although their fur can sometimes look a little more orange or brown; they are very recognizable compared to gray squirrels with their characteristic red color.
Their tails and bellies are usually white, and their coat is thicker in winter to keep them warm. Another cozy feature are the tufts of hair that grow on their ears in cooler temperatures; basically give them their own earplugs!
The same goes for humans; Red squirrels have five toes on their feet and four fingers and a thumb on their front paws.
This allows you to identify their footprints if you go looking for them! Their ankles have double joints that help them climb trees with ease. To help with balance, they also use their tails.
Did you know...? The red squirrel tail is a versatile tool! Besides using for balance; they are used to communicate with other red squirrels, reduce their jumping speed to get ready to land, and wrap themselves around to keep warm and palatable.
Like their gray counterpart; Red squirrels eat nuts and seeds like pine nuts and hazelnuts. They also like to eat fruit where available, tree buds, bark, mushrooms and lichens. Although they do not hibernate, red squirrels still store food for the winter when they become less active and hide for warmth. In the absence of kitchen cabinets and pantry; they will store seeds and nuts in the trees and in the ground.
Unfortunately, the red squirrel is an endangered species. There are several factors contributing to this:
About Gray Squirrels - Gray squirrels were brought to Europe and Asia from North America by wealthy people as pets and curiosities around the Victorian period. Unfortunately, gray squirrels carry a disease called Squirrel Pox, which can be fatal to red squirrels.