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Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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56.4907, -4.2026

Field Notes

Description:

Fur colour definitely reddish although reports say it can range from a warm reddish-brown in summer, to a deep brown with grey in winter. The colour may be very variable, ranging from almost black to buff, yet their underside is always cream. They have a bushy tail and ear tufts.Rather delicate looking and oh so agile!

Habitat:

Scotland.

Notes:

In Great Britain, Italy and Ireland, numbers have decreased drastically in recent years.

Reference Links:

Red squirrel - Wikipedia

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (15)
DanielePralong
Glad it made your day Sukanya! And thank you for all all your ongoing contributions to Project Noah.
SukanyaDatta
Oh! Wow...that really is the icing on the cake...and the cake was when I saw the little guy...it was a dream come true. Thank you all at PN.
DanielePralong
Congratulations Sukanya, this special little guy is our Spotting of the Day! "Photographed in Scotland, this Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is our Spotting of the Day! The Eurasian red squirrel's coat color varies with time of year and location. There are several different coat color morphs ranging from black to red; red coats are most common in Great Britain where this squirrel was spotted. Great Britain, Italy and Ireland have seen their red squirrel numbers decrease dramatically in recent years, a decline associated with habitat loss and the introduction by humans of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America. Fewer than 120,000 red squirrels remain in Scotland, 75% of the total UK population. Learn about efforts towards the conservation of the red squirrel in Scotland here: https://buff.ly/2f3OLVO " Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10159318687800603/?type=3&theater Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/905453904569270272
SukanyaDatta
@remkinloch Thank you. At least these are holding their own in Scotland.
remkinloch
Lovely images. Was lucky enough to see one run across a country road in Scotland. Beautiful creatures.
SukanyaDatta
Thanks Daniele. I am seeing new species (for me) too...and posting. Facebook sensed I was on a computer that was not my usual one and shut me out and I had to take a test to regain access. I was quite apprehensive that PN might do the same...thankfully not. Enjoy the reds you see...they are so dainty.
DanielePralong
I'm lucky to have them around my place in Switzerland. Their habitat is fragmented though and too often do I see one killed along the road. We don't have greys yet but there's a threat they might come further north from Italy, where they have been introduced. I have been enjoying your posts from the UK :-)
SukanyaDatta
Thank you Daniele...I had so wanted to see this one.
SukanyaDatta
Thank you @ triggsturner. In England all house gardens seem to have the larger gray ones eating up the bird food. The Gray ones, to my Indian eyes are also lovable and very different to the ones I see back home. But I really wanted to see the red ones. I understand the red ones are holding their own in Scotland...more power to ' em. Finally got to see two free living ones...so happy.
triggsturner
It's always nice to see these guys in the UK. Sadly gone from most of Britain.

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Project Squirrel
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2017 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 3, 2017

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