RED SQUIRREL
Sciuris vulgaris

See the free ranging wild red squirrels at our feeding station in the Forest Habitat. Up to a dozen different red squirrels visit for food or water every day.

Globally, there are about 246 different species of squirrel, but the only one native to Britain is the European red squirrel. They are very rare now in the UK, with over three-quarters of the remaining popluation found mainly in small pockets of woodland in Scotland. They make their homes in both conifer and deciduous woodland. They eat flowers, buds and seeds of trees, particularly hazel and pine, and fungi.

They are facing extinction from two sides. Firstly, the introduced North American grey squirrel has displaced the reds from much of their former range by dominating most of the foods shared by both species. Secondly, the grey squirrel carries and spreads the lethal parapox virus to red squirrels. Fortunately there is a growing interest in the plight of our red squirrel and you can also help by reporting sightings of red and grey squirrels to the following organisations. For squirrel sightings in the Highlands, contact the Highland Red Squirrel Group. For sightings of red and grey squirrels throughout Scotland, contact the Scottish Squirrel Survey.

Squirrels are social animals and have evolved a complex system of signalling with their bushy tails. Their nests, called dreys, are made of twigs and are usually lined with leaves, grass and moss. The female may produce two or three litters a year, each with about three young. If they survive their first year of life, they usually live around six years. Predators include wildcats, pine martens and birds of prey, but they are more likely to die from starvation, very cold weather and disease.