Mammal ð¿ï¸
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Sciurus vulgaris
| Size | 19â23 cm body (tail: 15â20 cm) Noticeably smaller than a Grey Squirrel |
|---|---|
| Weight | 250â340 g About the weight of a large pear |
| Lifespan | 3â7 years |
| Rarity | Rare |
| M vs F | Sexes look identical; both develop prominent ear tufts in winter |
| Habitat | Coniferous forest, native woodland; strongholds in Scotland, Northumberland, and Isle of Wight |
| Best time | Year-round; most visible in autumn when foraging intensifies |
| Conservation | UK: Red LC |
Did you know?
Red Squirrels have largely vanished from England due to competition and squirrelpox disease spread by introduced Grey Squirrels â which are immune to the virus themselves
Red Squirrels have largely vanished from England due to competition and squirrelpox disease spread by introduced Grey Squirrels â which are immune to the virus themselves
More for experts
They cannot digest acorns efficiently â unlike Grey Squirrels â which partly explains their displacement; they depend on conifer seeds (especially Scots Pine) and hazelnuts
Often confused with
Grey Squirrel (larger, grey, no ear tufts, wider distribution)
Grey Squirrel (larger, grey, no ear tufts, wider distribution)