![]() Grey Squirrels favour large woodlands with dense tree cover but are adaptable and can be found in the trees of urban parks and other urban areas. An adult can live to 20 years old but general life expectancy is about 12 years. Adults become sexually active by 5 ½ months old but are normally 1 year old before they produce their first litter. The young are born blind but are weaned at 7 weeks and leave the drey after 10 weeks. ![]() Litters are normally up to 6 but can be higher, with the first litter being born around late February and the second in late June. Greys can breed twice a year, normally December to February and then again in May to June although the later breeding season can be later in colder areas or years. Grey Squirrels do not hibernate and are normally active at dawn and dusk to help avoid predators. The nest they build is normally in the fork of a tree made of dry leaves and twigs, this is known as a drey, dreys have been found in lofts and outside walls of houses. They are one of the few mammals that descend a tree head first as they are able to turn their back feet so that the claws are able to grip backwards. The animal is larger and heaver than the native British red Squirrel being about 30cm long in body with a tail of up to 25cm, an adult weighing up to 600grams. The Black coloured (melanistic) can become dominate in some populations especially in areas of Canada and more recently in southern UK (2008). White and black coloured examples are found more often in urban areas (such distinct animals are prone to predators in rural settings). Its name is derived from its grey colour (although variations due occur) and in the United States where it is a native species it is also known as the Eastern Grey Squirrel having the name carolinensis as the Carolinas is the area in which the species was first identified. Fortunately there is a growing interest in the plight of our red squirrel and you can also help by reporting sightings of red and grey squirrels.The grey squirrel is a common sight in most areas of the UK but is not a native animal. ![]() Secondly, the grey squirrel carries and spreads the lethal parapox virus to red squirrels, which the greys are immune to. Firstly, the introduced, larger eastern grey squirrel from North America has displaced the reds from most of their former range by outcompeting the reds for territory and food supply. They are facing extinction from two sides. They are very rare now in the UK, with over three-quarters of the remaining population found mainly in small pockets of woodland in Scotland. Globally, there are many different species of squirrel, but there is only one native to Britain and that is the European red squirrel. They can sometimes produce two litters of three to four young a year, between March and July. Red squirrels build nests, called dreys, from sticks and moss placed high in the branches. Predators include wildcats, pine martens and birds of prey, but they are more likely to die from starvation, very cold weather and disease. Instead they hide stores of food to see them through periods when fresh food is not available. They are active during the day, foraging for food and they do not hibernate in winter. They will also sometimes eat insects, fungi and birds' eggs. Red squirrels are found in mixed broadleaf and coniferous woodland and have quite a varied diet including seeds, flowers, leaves and fruit. It is a smaller animal than the introduced grey squirrel, with a body length of 20 – 22cm. The red squirrel moults its coat twice a year but the ear tufts and the tail are only moulted annually. The red squirrel has a chestnut upper body, with a cream underside, noticeable ear tufts and a fluffy tail, which is almost the same length as its body.
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