European Red Squirrel
| Class: Mammalia:
Mammals |
Diet: Conifer cones,
fungi, fruit |
| Order:
Rodentia: Rodents |
| Size: body:
20 - 24 cm (7 3/4 - 9 1/2 in), tail: 15 - 20 cm (6 - 7 3/4 in) |
| Family: Sciuridae:
Squirrels |
Conservation Status:
Non-threatened |
| Scientific Name:
Sciurus vulgaris |
Habitat: evergreen
forest |
| Range:
Europe, east to China, Korea and Japan: Hokkaido |
 Until
the arrival of the North American gray squirrel in Britain at the beginning
of this century, the only European species was the red squirrel. Populations
are now declining in Britain, but red squirrels are still abundant in Europe
and Asia. Conifer cones are their main food, although in summer they also
eat fungi and fruit. The length of the breeding season is dictated
by local climate: in a good year a female may produce two litters of about
3 young each. The young are born in a tree nest, called a drey, which also
doubles as winter quarters.
  
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