Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a common species in the forests of the Low Beskid. Both males and females look alike and are of the same size. The individuals living in deciduous forests are reddish and the ones living in coniferous forests are very dark grey. They are very light and weigh just from 200 do 500 grams. Their characteristic long tail helps them to balance when jumping from tree to tree. Red squirrels build their nests in tree holes. Their diet consists mostly of seeds, nuts, mushrooms and berries. Excess food is put into caches. They do not hibernate in winter, but do stay in their nests. Females usually have two litters per year. The young are looked after by the mother alone and are born blind and deaf. Their eyes and ears open after three to four weeks. Their lifespan in the wild is about 5 years. The Low Beskid. Autumn 2007.