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Red squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

Photo by Tiz
Published on Project Noah
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59.6317, 17.0755

Field Notes

Description:

This squirrel revealed himself because of the relatively high sound he generated when he tried to open and eat a walnut. It took me some time to actually spot him in a tree above me. After eating he rested a bit on a branch (first picture). The red squirrel is somewhat smaller than the eastern grey squirrel.

Habitat:

Leafy tree next to a creek. Urban environment.

Notes:

The fur is shifted twice annually. Winter coat is thicker and longer, and also have significant ear tufts which other species of squirrels lack. The squirrel shifts to winter coat between August and November. The fur of young animals is blackish brown or reddish brown. The body length is 24-30 cm apart from the tail is 17-20 cm. The weight is between 200 and 450 g male and female are equal.
Funny facts: If the weather is bad, the squirrel can stay in the nest for several days.
Squirrels can swim
Squirrels live alone and prefer not to share food with others.
Outside the breeding season and in winter, several squirrels can share the nest to keep warm.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (15)

Thank you very much sintija.valucka and Akshi for your comments! I was lucky to find him in that "pose" :)
Extremely cute squirrel (especially in the first picture)! :))
Thanks for your comment Kerry :) Indeed a special pose, I think it looks like he/she is sucking on the thumb :D, but it's not exactly a squirrel-activity... hehe
Lovely series Tiz. I especially like the first one, he looks like he's posing for you for a portrait.
Well Faredin, I am sure you will catch him one day soon! A walnut might be the key to success :)
I have a sneaky squirrel stealing my bird food from the garden but never have seen it and while having the camera, it runs hides all the time :). We can change, you come have the garden and the cats and I get Africa...that continent can't be exchanged for anything, you are lucky :)
Since you have a garden, why dont you make a little "feeding station" for them? And for those cats sneaking around, be ready to spray some water on them so you can keep those birds and perhaps some squirrels as well :) (I wish I had a cat and a garden, but I have Africa instead I guess :P)
Hahaa, nice photos, and I'm again jealous...my danish squirrels don't like me, haven't succeeded to get nice photos of any :).
That is great bherath :) Thanks for your comment
Great that those photos made you smile! That is what life is about :)
Made me smile, Tiz, the first photo especially ...
Thank you Ava :)

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