Squirrel

Loved and hated in equal measure, the alien grey squirrel is now firmly established throughout most of Britain. Loved because it is cute and cuddly looking. Hated because it has been largely instrumental in driving our own native red squirrel to the edge of extinction; predates bird nests eating eggs and young; causes considerable damage to native woodland through stripping bark; gains access to loft spaces in homes and subsequently damages electrical cables and water pipes causing house fires and flooding; competes for food with our native and endangered dormouse; need I go on? Best controlled with live catch cage traps.

Squirrel: Description & Life Cycle

Grey squirrels are not native to Britain, they were introduced from USA/Canada between 1876 and 1930.

Description:

probably our best known and recognised urban mammal
upper fur is mainly grey with mid-brown along the upper back and chestnut over the flanks
white underside, grey tail banded with brown and black and with a white fringe
they live for 5-7 years
they weigh 450-650gramms
teir body is 24-26cm long and their tail is 19-24cm long

Life cycle:

gestation is 44 days
young are called kittens
generally two litters per year of between 3 and 7 kittens
they leave their nest (drey) after about 7 weeks

The problems with Grey Squirrels:

squirrels are serious pests to forestry plantations where they cause damage by stripping bark from tree trunks
in towns and cities grey squirrels cause problems when they gain access to roof spaces via building defects.
once they have gained access squirrels can cause damage to roof timbers, electrical wiring and plumbing
problems can also be caused to gardeners, allotment holders and market gardeners, as grey squirrels will take cereals, fruit and vegetables
Grey Squirrels can carry Parapox virus, which is fatal to Red Squirrels
our native Red Squirrel has been forced to the edge of extinction in England as a direct result of competition from the Grey Squirrel