Red Squirrels

The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), a species of tree squirrel found in both Europe and Asia, belongs to the genus Sciurus. The red squirrel is a rodent that lives in trees and eats mostly plants. Numbers have sharply dropped in recent years in Italy, Ireland, and Great Britain. The introduction of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) by humans from North America is linked to this decline. However, due to conservation initiatives, public awareness, and the growing numbers of pine martens, a European predator that preferentially kills grey squirrels, the population in Scotland is stabilizing.

The red squirrel's coat changes color depending on the season and its environment. The squirrel always has a white-cream color on its bottom. The red squirrel sheds its coat twice a year, changing between August and November from a lighter summer coat to a thicker, darker winter coat with visibly larger ear tufts (a key characteristic of this species). The Eurasian red squirrel can be distinguished from the American eastern grey squirrel by its smaller size, lighter, redder overall coat color, and ear tufts (in adults). Red serves as a camouflage when viewed against pine tree bark.