Sciurus vulgaris is best known as the Red Squirrel. These squirrels are like many other squirrels. The Red Squirrel could be in a garden or a park even in forests. Red Squirrels are very clever and can tell if a nut is good or bad. The Red Squirrels are very fascinating creatures.

         

The Red Squirrel grows to be 19 to 24 cm long and has a tail the length of around 17 cm long and they weigh up to 280-350 grams.  Their colors vary year round from dark brown to a rusty red color. Their stomachs and chests are a  cream color. In the winter, these squirrels have a dark thick coat with tufts of hair on their ears. In the summer, they shed their thick coat and are left with their noticeable rusty red colored coat.

         

The Red Squirrel habitat varies; they live in the tops of trees, gardens, and parks. The Red Squirrel lives in Europe and Asia. Their primary location is  in the  forests of Scotland. These squirrels live in trees that haven’t been invaded by the Grey Squirrel. They do well in their habitat, because their food sources are near and stored in hollow part of trees where they make their nests.

         

The Red Squirrel population is declining. In some parts of Europe ,they are trying to bring back the Red Squirrel  population. In Great Britain, the population is 16,000 and in Scotland they’re about 121,000.  There are  40,000 Red Squirrels in England. The population is least concerned.

         

The Red Squirrel’s main diet is a variety of seeds, berries, and buds. They also consume fungi and sap from trees. They store their food in tree logs and in tree holes. They don’t hibernate so they don’t store as much food. They compete with the Grey Squirrel and other types of squirrels for food. The Grey Squirrel can store its food better in its body giving it an advantage when consuming food.

         

The Red Squirrel has few predators. Owls and hawks catch the Red Squirrel and consume it. In some areas,  Red Squirrels can be prey to a hunting house cat. The Grey Squirrel can  also be a predator to the Red Squirrel. Grey Squirrels carry a disease called Squirrel Parapoxvirus     that doesn’t affect their health but often is very fatal.       

         

The Red Squirrel is common in Europe and Asia with a total of around 150,000 . Their coats are rusty red to a deep brown depending on the season. Red Squirrel faces the deadly disease carried by the Grey Squirrel. These squirrels consume seeds, flowers, and fungi. The population of this spectacular species are declining rapidly

 

Author: Emily H.

Published: 2/2011

 

Sources:

  1. "Squirrel (Red) :: Animal Facts :: Young People's Trust for the Environment." Young People's Trust for the Environment - Information for Kids on Climate Change and Other Environmental Facts and Charities. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. <http://www.ypte.org.uk/animal/squirrel-red-/177>.

2. L., Olivia. "European Red Squirrel." Blue Planet Biomes. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/euro_red_squirrel.htm>.

3. "Red Squirrel." Scottish Natural Heritage. Web. 12 Feb. 2011. <http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/education/redsquirrel.pdf>

 4. Cooke, F., and Jenni Bruce. The Encyclopedia of Animals: a Complete Visual Guide. Berkeley: University of California, 2004. 221-22. Print.

 

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