Red Squirrels Northern England
Red squirrels in the UK are under threat from the introduced
grey squirrel. Numbers in the UK have fallen from a onetime high
thought to be around 3.5 million, to a current estimated population
of around 120,000. The population in England is thought to be as
low as 15,000. The most significant threat associated with grey
squirrels is the spread and transmission of a disease called
squirrelpox virus. Grey squirrels do not suffer from the virus but
once a red has become infected they will invariably die within two
weeks.
Red Squirrels Northern England is a new project that aims to
increase red squirrel populations through a program of tightly
monitored and targeted grey squirrel control. They also carry out
biannual monitoring of red and grey squirrel distribution
throughout the north of England. To find out more about their work
or log a sighting, please visit
www.rsne.org.uk.
RED SQUIRREL FACTS
- THEY STORE THEIR NUTS IN THE GROUND IN THE AUTUMN.
- THEY DO NOT HIBERNATE OVER WINTER.
- THEY CAN SWIM.
- SQUIRRELS EAT NUTS, SEEDS, BUDS, BERRIES, FLOWERS, SHOOTS AND
FRUIT FROM MANY TREES AND SHRUBS.
- THEY EAT FUNGII AND INSECTS OCCASIONALLY.
- THEY CAN BE RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED WHEN EATING A PINE CONE.
- SQUIRRELS MOULT THEIR COAT TWICE A YEAR, ONCE AFTER WINTER AND
THEN AGAIN IN THE LATE SUMMER BEFORE IT GETS COLD AGAIN.