Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Red squirrels were once the only species of squirrel in Europe. This changed with the introduction of the grey squirrel to the UK from America in the late 1800s. Spending most of their time in the tree tops, red squirrels make use of several dreys inside their range. They don't hibernate, but remain in the drey for several days at a time during bad weather.
What do they sound like?
Watch video clips from past programmes (2 clips)
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The red squirrels of Cumbria
Autumnwatch
Kate Humble visits the frontline of the struggle between the red and grey squirrels.
Scottish reds Featured in the following TV programmes
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Archived
Autumnwatch: Episode 6
Chris and Kate are in the Lake District to witness a British wood at its seasonal best.
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Archived
Living Britain: DEEPEST WINTER
Series portrays British wildlife over an entire year. 1/6 Looks at Britain in the grip of winter - Otters,eagles,waders,swans,squirrels,foxes,toads,deer
Featured in the following Radio programmes
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Catch Up
The Living World: Tufty of Thirlmere
Lionel Kelleway searches for his own autumnal 'tufty' red squirrel in the Lake District.
Earth News
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Squirrel report calls for surveys
Detailed monitoring of grey squirrels needs to take place to help protect under-threat reds in their strongholds in northern England, a report has said.
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Can the squirrel problem be solved?
Researchers are trying to find a way to stop grey squirrels reproducing, but can the menace ever be stopped?
About the Red squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel (genus Sciurus). A tree-dwelling omnivorous rodent, the red squirrel is common throughout Eurasia.
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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Common Names
Eurasian red squirrel
The Red squirrel is
- Adapted to climbing
- Arboreal
- Capable of torpor
- Helpless at birth
- Herbivorous
- Polygynous
- Polymorphic
- Viviparous
Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
Where can I see them?
They can be found in the following habitats:
Conservation Status
The Red squirrel is Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
- EX - Extinct
- EW
- CR - Threatened
- EN - Threatened
- VU - Threatened
- NT
- LC - Least concern
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Elsewhere on the web
- Red squirrel - Sciurus vulgaris (arkive.org)
- Sciurus vulgaris (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Autumnwatch: Meet the animals (bbc.co.uk)
- Red squirrel fact file (forestry.gov.uk)
- IUCN Red List information (iucnredlist.org)
- Facts from the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (rsst.org.uk)
- Red Squirrel (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
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