Latest Red Squirrel Stories
Scientists develop techniques to avoid repeat of red squirrel catastrophe DISASTROUS disease outbreaks like the one which led to the decimation of the red squirrel in Britain can now be avoided through the implementation of new preventive measures developed by UK scientists. Researchers at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) looked at the disease risks associated with moving wild animals (translocation), and worked out the key baseline data required to predict the outcome of wild...
Some of Ireland's oldest inhabitants are facing serious threat and possible extinction because of foreign species, according to researchers at Queen's University. The red squirrel, Irish hare and red deer are just some of Ireland's indigenous species which are under threat as a result of the introduction of foreign species. A new study which took place over the last two years looked at the impact of two introduced species – the bank vole and greater white toothed shrew – on two native...
University of Guelph researchers have finally figured out why female squirrels are so darn promiscuous. Turns out it has nothing to do with genes and everything to do with how many males are knocking at their door."Their behaviour is overwhelmingly influenced by opportunity," said graduate student Eryn McFarlane, who, along with integrative biology professor Andrew McAdam and a team of researchers from across Canada, solved a mystery that has baffled biologists for years.Their...
They may adorable little critters but the grey squirrels in northern Scotland will need more than that on their sides after the release of Britain's biggest culling operation of a mammal.Naturalists and landowners are working together to purge northern Scotland of the squirrels, insisting that they transmit a fatal pox virus and intimidate the petite red squirrel.Scotland is a safe haven for the at risk red squirrel, whose numbers have decreased in Britain since the entrance of its larger,...
By AMY HUNT Environment Reporter RARE mammals are reappearing in parts of the North East, thanks to conservation efforts. Endangered pine martens, part of the weasel family, are increasingly being seen in woods around the region. Now conservation bosses are trying to find out how many there are and what more can be done to encourage them to thrive. Pine martens are very shy and difficult to spot in the wild. The species has been brought to the brink of extinction in England because...
Latest Red Squirrel Reference Libraries
Abert’s squirrel (Sciurus aberti) is a tree squirrel that is native to the North America. It is also known as the tassel-eared squirrel. Its range extends from the Rocky Mountains all the way into Mexico, with large populations appearing in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and the Grand Canyon. Its range is slightly fragmented, with most populations being isolated to the Rocky Mountains, but the introduced populations in the Graham and Santa Catalina mountains of Arizona are stable. There...
The Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) is native to southern areas of Africa. Its range includes South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, although it does not occur in coastal areas of this region. In Botswana, it occurs in southwestern Kalahari, and in South Africa, it occurs in south and south central areas. The name of the Cape ground squirrel is misleading, as its range is much larger than the name suggests. It is thought that the name was used in order to distinguish the species from the...
The Arizona grey squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis) is native to the deciduous and mixed forests of northern Mexico and Arizona, surrounded by valleys and canyons. It is a tree squirrel placed within the genus Sciurus. This squirrel will eat acorns and other nuts, seeds, berries, and pinecones. Although the Arizona grey squirrel looks and acts much like other grey squirrels, it is essentially more closely related to fox squirrels. This squirrel is endangered by habitat loss. Image Caption:...
The Mexican fox squirrel (Sciurus nayaritensis) can be found throughout the Sierra Madre Occidental and as far south as Jalisco, Mexico. The northern range of this squirrel only includes the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. There are three subspecies of the Mexican fox squirrel, and they are commonly known as the Nayarit, Chiricahua fox squirrel, and the Apache. These squirrels prefer a forested habitat, living at elevations if up to 8,900 feet, depending on the location....
The Western Gray Squirrel, Sciurus griseus, is a tree squirrel found along the western coast of the United States and Canada. This species has been known as the Silver-gray squirrel, the California Gray Squirrel, the Oregon Gray Squirrel, the Columbian Gray Squirrel, the Banner-tail, and also simply as the Gray Squirrel. Three geographical subspecies are known. The Western Gray Squirrel was first described by George Ord in 1818 based on notes taken by Lewis and Clark at The Dalles in Wasco...
