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Squirrels
store nuts in the ground in Autumn.
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Red
squirrels do not hibernate over winter.
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Squirrels
can swim.
-
They
eat seeds, buds, leaves, flowers, shoots and fruit of many
trees and shrubs, fungi, insects and occasional birds eggs.
-
They
live in a drey made of twigs, leaves and moss built in a
tree.
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Squirrels
are like us, they can be left or right handed when they eat.
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Reds
moult their whole coat twice a year.
-
They
moult ear tufts and tail once in late summer.
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Reds
can live to 6 years of age.
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The
red's scientific name is Sciurus vulgaris.
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Squirrels
have 4 fingers and 5 toes.
-
They
can hang upside down.
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Not
always red, the winter coat can be very dark and quite
-
grey.
-
Their
young are called kittens.
-
Could
have 2 litters each year with 3-4 kittens in each litter.
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Kittens
are born blind, pink, hairless and toothless.
-
When
7 weeks old kittens start to wander from drey and feed off
solid food.
-
Weigh
275 - 300 gms.
-
Length
- body 20 - 22cm, tail 17 - 18cm.
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Red
and grey squirrels live at similar densities in conifer woods.
-
In
broadleaved woods grey squirrels live at a higher density
than reds.
