Squirrel Decals and Image Gallery
The Eurasian red squirrel, scientifically known as Sciurus vulgaris, is a captivating small rodent primarily found in Europe and North Asia. This intriguing creature, known for its distinctive ear tufts, is a plantigrade, meaning it moves on the soles of its feet.
This squirrel's size is approximately 20-25 cm in head-body length, and its tail length ranges from 15-20 cm. The red squirrel weighs between 200-400 grams, with a birth weight of just 8.5 grams.
The red squirrel's coat changes twice a year, and its diet is omnivorous, consisting of berries, nuts, fruits, bark, flowers, mushrooms, worms, bird eggs, young birds, insects, and snails. Interestingly, its gestation period is 38 days.
The red squirrel's lifespan, in the wild, is about 3 years up to 7 years, and up to 10 years in captivity. Despite its small size, this squirrel is quite resilient, with a higher resistance to diseases compared to its counterpart, the grey squirrel.
Grey squirrels, however, are a separate species and are not true squirrels. Although they are found in London's Hyde Park, they are not native to the UK and have different geographical distributions compared to the red squirrel. Grey squirrels often outcompete red squirrels in areas where they co-occur, contributing to the decline of the red squirrel population in some regions.
The red squirrel's distribution area covers almost the entire European continent and large parts of Asia. It is found mainly in forests but also increasingly in urban areas such as gardens and parks where trees provide food and shelter.
Despite their differences, both grey and red squirrels play essential roles in their respective ecosystems. Understanding these differences can help in conserving and co-existing with these fascinating creatures.
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