Red Squirrel

The Red Squirrel can be told apart from other tree squirrels by its reddish-brown fur, noticeable ear tufts in winter, and its relatively small size, measuring 19 to 23 centimetres in body length. Its tail is bushy and almost as long as its body. In summer, its fur looks more reddish-brown, while in winter it becomes greyer with distinctive white fur underneath throughout the year. It is native to Britain and found widely across Europe and Asia, from Ireland all the way to Japan. However, in England and Wales, their numbers have dropped because of competition from the introduced Grey Squirrel. They are still common in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and some isolated areas in England such as Brownsea Island and Formby. The Red Squirrel lives in coniferous and mixed woodlands, especially favouring mature pine forests where pine cones provide their main food. They are also found in broadleaf woodlands, particularly in places where hazel trees grow.