Wildlife
Instantly recognisable by their red fur, ear tufts and long, fluffy tails, red squirrels were once the only squirrel species in Europe. This changed when grey squirrels were introduced from America to the UK in the late 1800s. Though reds are still plentiful across Europe and northern Asia, they've been out-competed by the canny greys. Red squirrels spend most of their time in the treetops and maintain several dreys within their range to aid escape from predators. Daily activity centres around obtaining food, mostly seeds and acorns which, with practice, they can open in just a few seconds.
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Sylvan sanctuary
Man-made conifer forests are vital sanctuaries for red squirrels, goshawks and others.
Man-made conifer forests are vital sanctuaries for red squirrels, goshawks and others.
Scottish reds
Scotland is now the stronghold of the red squirrel.
One of the earliest mammals to breed in the year, the red squirrel is slowly starting to re-establish itself in the forests of Scotland. Once almost extinct when their habitat was cut down in the 15th century, they have been reintroduced from England.
Squirrel country
A red squirrel gets comfortably set for a nice long nibble.
A red squirrel gets comfortably set for a nice long nibble.
Squirrel secrets
The truth about the battle between red and grey squirrels.
The truth about the battle between red and grey squirrels.
Seeing red
Brownsea Island boasts a small but healthy red squirrel population.
Brownsea Island boasts a small but healthy red squirrel population.
The following habitats are found across the Red squirrel distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, omnivorous rodent.
In Great Britain and Ireland, numbers have decreased drastically in recent years, in part because of the introduction of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America.
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Desert
Flooded grassland
Mediterranean forest
Mountain grassland
Taiga
Broadleaf forest
Coniferous forest
Temperate grassland
Tundra
Helpless young
Tree dweller
Adapted to climbing
Herbivorous
Food storage
Polygynous
Polymorphism
Torpor
Viviparous