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We have three different types of squirrel in Britain today: our native red, the more prevalent grey and the recently-discovered black squirrel. The red squirrel has existed here for centuries, but has declined in recent years, after the introduction of the grey in Victorian times.

Conservation efforts have been put in place to protect the native red species and today, there are an estimated 140,000 individuals across the UK. This compares with more than 2.5 million grey and 25,000 black squirrels.

Red squirrel

The red squirrel's origins are unknown, although the earliest confirmed existence of the species in Britain dates back around 4,500 years. Remains were found on the Isle of Wight, at Binnel Point, which were estimated to date from around 2500 BC.

A seldom-seen garden visitor, it is much loved by the public and any rare sighting is exciting. Prior to the 19th century, an estimated five million red squirrels lived across Britain, favouring coniferous woodland areas. It is known for its long tail, which helps it to balance and steer as it runs along branches, jumping from tree to tree.

Today, the largest population is in the Lake District, particularly around Grasmere. Efforts have been made to reintroduce them into the wild by the Cornwall Red Squirrel Project, which was founded in 2009. In addition, Trewithen Estate has endeavoured to introduce them back into its extensive grounds since 2012.

Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall, protects the red squirrels living on Balmoral Estate. He was instrumental in setting up the conservation charity, Red Squirrels Northern England, in 2011. In November 2018, celebrating his 70th birthday, he revealed he let squirrels into his house at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, to watch them play.

Grey squirrel

The introduction of grey squirrels into Britain in the 19th century spelled disaster for the native red. The large eastern grey squirrel measures up 30cm long and can weigh up to 800g, while the red is only 21cm long and weighs around 330g.

The Victorians brought the grey squirrel from North America as a pretty addition to their garden. However, they escaped in large numbers and reports indicate they began to establish themselves in the wild in around 1876. When both grey and red squirrels lived in the same area, the larger greys monopolised the food supply.

In addition, the greys sometimes carried a virus called squirrelpox. Although it didn't kill the grey species, it was fatal to thousands of reds, whose population declined 25 times quicker in areas hit by the disease. Conservationists said a loss of habitat also impacted the red population. The situation became so severe in the early 21st century that conservation groups said the red squirrel would be extinct in Britain within 20 years if urgent measures weren't taken to save it.

Grey squirrels have continued to thrive in all parts of the UK and you're likely to see them in rural and urban areas. They are regular visitors to people's gardens and have become much-loved in their own right by many people.

Black squirrel

The black squirrel is a relative newcomer to the UK. The first sighting of a black squirrel in the wild was in 1912 at Woburn. It had been imported from the United States, but escaped from a private zoo.

The species fascinated private collectors in Britain, as it had come about as a result of interbreeding between the grey squirrel and the North American fox squirrel. Research published in BMC Evolutionary Biology claimed the black fur was due to a faulty pigment gene.

During the 20th century, the wild population in the UK began to grow, although there are still only 25,000. The black squirrel has adapted even to freezing weather, as its thick fur has great thermal properties, according to joint research between Cambridge University and the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

Where do squirrels live?

Squirrels live in a nest called a drey, which they build from twigs and sticks and line with strips of bark, moss, grass and leaves. They build them high in the forked branches of tall trees such as pines, or in deciduous woodlands.

A squirrel may have two or three dreys in use at the same time, in different trees, depending on how wide their area is - a male squirrel can patrol an area of up to 17 hectares.

In the winter, male and female squirrels often share dreys if their territories overlap and they recognise each other. They may feed in the same area. Nest-sharing helps them to keep warm throughout the winter, but it normally stops in the spring, when the females are rearing their young.

What do squirrels do on a daily basis?

Squirrels are diurnal, which means they are active during the day, rather than at night. They are normally busy from dawn until darkness falls, although they usually pause for a rest at midday. They can risk being out in daylight because they have few natural predators.

They can escape from foxes and birds of prey by hiding up in the trees, although they will forage on the ground for food. Squirrels always seem busy and when they aren't foraging, they are often seen washing and scratching themselves.

Do squirrels forget where they have buried nuts?

Squirrels feed on mainly acorns, beech, hazel and other nuts. They forage more in autumn to build up a supply of food for winter, increasing their body weight by up to 25% in autumn to prepare for possible food shortages.

They hold nuts in their front paws - they particularly enjoy pine cones, chewing the scales off to eat the seeds inside. The ground may be littered with chewed cones under a pine tree. When squirrels bury nuts to eat later, they quite often forget where they have left them!

It's mainly grey squirrels who bury nuts all over the place and then forget where they are. They can bury them in dozens of different spots in their area, so it's no surprise some are forgotten. Scientists say this results in trees growing in new areas, so it has an ecological benefit on the planet.

Red squirrels tend to store nuts in piles on the ground, rather than buried in the earth. This means reds normally don't lose as much of their hoarded food and the piled-up nuts dry out and don't take root.

Do squirrels mate for life?

Unlike some mammals, squirrels don't mate for life. They start courting in late winter and it's common to see one or two males chasing a female across the ground, or through the trees. A female becomes receptive for only one day, when males will be attracted by her scent from up to 500m away.

Males can mate at any time, but females mate only for a brief period during the breeding season. The male plays no part in rearing the young, which are called kits. He will disappear after mating, while the female lines her drey with soft materials and gives birth in March or April, after a six-week gestation period. Sometimes, she will mate again in early summer and have a second litter in June or July.

The average litter has between three and nine babies, which are blind and naked when born. The mother must suckle them every three to four hours for around seven weeks. Once their eyes open and fur grows, they will join their mother on the tree branches and start to eat solid food. At ten weeks old, their teeth are fully grown and they stop suckling altogether.

At about 14 weeks old, they move out of the family nest and begin to build dreys themselves. The young will stay in the same area if there aren't too many squirrels living there. However, if it's crowded, they will be chased away by other adults and will have to find less crowded feeding areas. They breed for the first time at one year old.

How do you look after squirrels in your garden?

Many people love welcoming squirrels to their garden. The best way to attract them is to put squirrel food and a shelter in your garden. They don't need much encouragement - in the winter, they will steal food from bird-feeders, especially peanuts and hazelnuts.

Hang a feeder on a large tree branch when possible and watch them arrive. The squirrel will tend to hide all the food in an instant as soon as it sniffs it out, so don't be tricked into putting too much out, thinking they have eaten it all!

Put clean water out and plant greenery such as a deciduous hedge and shrubs, or a hazel tree. If you have a pond, keep it covered with netting, as drowning is a common cause of squirrel deaths. Offer them shelter in the form of a large nesting-box, widening the entrance to make sure they can get in. Hang the box as high as you can on the tree and make sure the entrance hole is at least 8cm square.

It's best to admire squirrels from afar - if you get too close, you'll deter them from coming in your garden. The best thing to do is to sit back and watch - you'll surely be rewarded!

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