16 Nature Notes Lots to enjoy in the Great Outdoors


Squirrels, squirrels everywhere…


... in woods, gardens and parks and once the leaves have fallen they are more visible running around in the trees. They have a keen eye for food and are natural entertainers performing acrobatics in the trees, hanging from bird feeders and balancing on washing lines.


G


rey squirrels were introduced to the UK in the late 19th


century from North America and have by and large pushed out the native red squirrel


population. In Devon the only place where you can see this iconic British species is at Wildwood woodland enclosure at Escot (devon.wildwoodtrust.org).


As well as being smaller and rarer than the grey squirrels the red species are vulnerable to the squirrel pox virus, which although carried by the greys is a disease to which they themselves are immune. Such is the dominance of the grey squirrel that you don’t often see the 2 species inhabiting the same area.


Native red squirrel


These nut-loving and numerous creatures seen darting about are one of the UK’s invasive species who as well as overpowering the native breed also play a part in damaging and killing woodlands by stripping the bark from trees. There are a number of red squirrel conservation and habitat management projects in place to try to control grey squirrel populations. This includes the recent introduction of an innovative contraceptive scheme being trialled in some areas in the UK - grey squirrels are lured to special feeding hoppers containing an irresistible hazelnut paste laced with a vaccine which renders both male and


female grey squirrels infertile.


Sadly the red squirrel has


been extinct in the wild in Devon for more than 50 years. It is


totally outnumbered by the invasive grey squirrel.


Grey squirrel


Did you know ? ● A squirrel’s nest is known as a drey and is made out of twigs, leaves and bark lodged up in the fork of a branch high up in the tree canopy.


● A group of squirrels is called a scurry. ● A baby squirrel is called a kit/kitten.


● These canny animals work hard to ensure their food stashes aren’t stolen, hiding their feed in a variety of larders. Grey squirrels have been seen to pretend to bury nuts to fool any prospective thieves.


● Grey squirrels have double-jointed ankles allowing them to climb stealthily up and down trees.


Grey squirrels don’t hibernate but are just less active, curling up in cold weather under the protection of their bushy tails.


● Squirrels use a number of squeaking/barking sounds to protect themselves and their territories with sounds of alarm often accompanied by ‘tail flicking’ which is used as a signalling device.


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