Red squirrels were once common throughout Britain, but as the introduced grey squirrel has taken hold their numbers in England and Wales have plummeted.
Red squirrels were once common throughout Britain, but as the introduced grey squirrel has taken hold their numbers in England and Wales have plummeted with a few precious populations remaining in Anglesey and Snowdonia, on the Isle of Wight and Brownsea Island on the south coast, Formby in Lancashire, in the Lake District and Kielder Forest in Northumberland. The population remains more widespread in Scotland and active conservation projects are underway to stop the spread of the grey squirrel and protect these remaining red squirrel outposts. The Red squirrel is smaller than the grey, with predominant ear tufts, a red to brown fur and cream chest.
Red squirrels have four fingers and five toes, they are well adapted to climbing and their life in the trees. They can be found in in both coniferous and broadleaved woodland where they live in a spherical nest called a drey which they construct with sticks and leaves. Red Squirrels eat the seeds from spruce and pine cones, fungi, berries bark and acorns. They store food in the hollows of trees to help them survive through the winter when food is scarce.
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