Red Squirrels

Red squirrels are one of the most sought after animals to find out in the wilds of England. They are native to the UK but are by no means common. After grey squirrels were introduced to the country the population of red squirrels drastically decreased. In fact, there is an estimated 140,000 red ones within Britain. In contrast, there are around 2.5 million of the grey species.

Their rarity has led to red squirrels becoming even more popular for visitors of nature reserves. Some of these locations are sanctuaries for the species, which struggles in more urbanised areas. While out and about in nature the red squirrel can be a delightful sight to behold.

Identifying Them

Some people assume that these animals are easily identifiable. They will usually have rusty shaded red fur. The problem is that some grey squirrels can have red fur. Furthermore the red species has been known to also have grey and black coloured coats.

This has led to the two species being commonly misidentified. Instead of focusing on their colour it is easier to tell them apart by looking at their size. The grey kind will be relatively larger than the red. You can also look at their ears. Reds will have easy to see tufts coming out of theirs during the winter months.

Best Locations

If you want to see a large number of these animals in a nature reserve then Scotland is the best place to visit. Compared to England they have a much larger population of these creatures. When finding yourself in England the best locations to see reds are Northumberland, Cumbria and Poole Harbour. Indicators of squirrel activity in the area can include scratches on trees and chewed up pine cones. They are usually seen on tree branches and some will be more shy of humans than others.