Red Squirrels

Red Squirrels are fortunately common at Rannoch and across Highland Perthshire.

It is well known that the introduced American grey squirrel is the biggest threat to the remaining populations of red squirrels in the UK. This is not so much because the greys are bigger and aggressive towards the reds as the fact that squirrel pox virus is carried by the greys. The grey squirrel is not affected but the virus is fatal to the red squirrel.

A mixed population is found on Kinnoull Hill at Perth and so it is the case, thus far, that the Scottish grey squirrels are not infecting the reds. This may not be universally so and may in any case change but so far so good.

Red squirrels seem better adapted to coniferous woodland than the greys and the reverse is true that grey squirrels are able to make better use of deciduous woods because they can eat green acorns which reds cannot. The red population is much higher in Scotland than England now, but persecution in the past wiped out the original Scottish red squirrels and the population was only restored by introductions from Scandinavia.

Although absent from most of England and Wales there are remnant populations of red squirrels on the Isle of Wight, Brownsea Island in Poole harbour, Anglesey and the Lake District.

The red squirrel makes a drey (nest) near the tops of trees and this is where the young grow and develop. Red squirrels do not hibernate although they may shelter in their dreys during very cold weather. The young squirrels are called kittens and two or three are born from February to May and with a possible second brood in June and July.

They are frequent visitors to gardens and bird tables in Rannoch where they are very fond of peanuts. Specific squirrel food is probably better for them and this is what is to found in the squirrel feeders along the forest walks at Carie.

Pine Martens are known to be predators of red squirrels and the pine marten is helped by being a good tree climber. The red squirrel is an agile animal and is often able to escape the pine marten but it is thought that the grey squirrel is more at risk because it spends more time on the ground and because it is slightly less agile. For those reasons it is suggested that pine martens are good for controlling the spread of the grey squirrel. I think the jury is still out on this question.

Last autumn red squirrels seemed to disappear from bird tables and the pine marten has been blamed by some. Others suggested that the abundance of autumnal nuts and other natural food meant that the squirrels did not need to come to gardens. They seem to be returning now (January) and so the abundant food theory may be the correct one.

The natural food is largely vegetarian with pine, larch and spruce seeds being popular. Squirrels are important in spreading these seeds. Occasionally red squirrels will eat eggs and nestling birds.

(10th January 2020)

Creative Commons - credit Evas-naturfotografie

Photo above - pine cone chewed by a red squirrel

Red squirrel at a feeder - West Tempar