Red squirrels

The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a small rodent recognisable by its reddish-brown fur, bushy tail and ear tufts that are most noticeable in winter. Coat colour varies by region, from light red to dark brown and even black.

Where does it live?

It lives in the forests of Eurasia, from western Europe to Siberia and northern Japan, especially forests with conifers such as pine and spruce. In Türkiye it is found in some forests of Thrace and north-western Anatolia. Across most of Anatolia a different species, the Caucasian (Persian) squirrel, lives instead.

What does it eat?

Its main foods are conifer seeds, hazelnuts, walnuts, acorns, fungi, buds and fruit. In autumn it stores these foods for winter by burying them or hiding them in tree holes.

Behaviour and social life

Red squirrels live alone and are active by day. They climb nimbly and leap from branch to branch, using their long tails for balance. They build spherical shelters called dreys from twigs and leaves in tree branches. They do not hibernate but stay in their dreys longer on cold days.

Young

The female has young once or twice a year, usually 3–4 at a time. Kits are born hairless and blind and stay with their mother for several months.

Conservation status

The red squirrel is listed as Least Concern (LC) globally on the IUCN Red List. However, in parts of Britain and Italy its numbers have fallen sharply because of competition with the introduced North American grey squirrel and a virus the grey squirrel carries.

Fun facts

• Red squirrels find most of their stored food, but forgotten seeds can grow into trees.
• Their ear tufts thin out in summer and grow longer in winter.
• Because squirrels' front teeth grow throughout life, gnawing hard shells wears them down.