Grey Squirrel vs Red Squirrel

The Grey Squirrel is a medium-sized tree squirrel with mostly grey fur, although brownish shades often appear along the sides and head. Its tail is bushy and grey with pale edges, and the underside is white. In summer, its coat looks sleeker and browner compared to the thicker winter fur. It has little or no ear tufts, which helps to tell it apart from the native Red Squirrel. Originally from eastern North America, this squirrel was brought to Britain in the 1800s. Since then, it has spread widely across England, Wales, and parts of Scotland and Ireland. It lives in woods with mainly broadleaf trees, parks, and gardens, especially liking oak and beech trees. The Grey Squirrel is very adaptable and is often seen in towns and cities. It makes use of bird feeders and nest boxes found in gardens. It is active during the day and spends a lot of time searching for food on the ground.

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.