A symbol of Britain - the Red Squirrel.

[Miss Z]

This beautiful creature, already rather rare in the British Isles, has taken another battering of late due to the squirrel pox virus. I went up to Formby Point, one of the few remaining strongholds of the animal, in late July, and only managed to spot one this year. :( Usually, I'd find, at the very least, five or so.

Still, the one I did find seemed healthy and was sporting a very fine summer coat, so I had to take some pics. :)

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/RedSquirrel1.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/RedSquirrel3.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/RedSquirrel4.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/RedSquirrel5.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/RedSquirrel6.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/RedSquirrel7.jpg

[Miss Z]

I also took a quick video of him burying in the pine needles.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/th_RedSquirrelatFormby.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/?action=view&current=RedSquirrelatFormby.flv)

Here's a picture of the Formby dunes, purely because I think it's gorgeous. We have some truly lovely, rugged coastline in this part of the country.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/Formby033.jpg

And my spot-of-the-day: this is a Meadow Pipit hiding in the grasses.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/Miss_Z_rat_luver/Formby031.jpg

That's all, hope you enjoyed. :)

[happylabs]

Wow he is very pretty. We have a lot gray squirrels here in Pennsylvania. I think we also have some red but they are not as prominent. When I go to our park at lunch time I may see up to 10 or more gray ones. They are very busy and also will come up to your vehicle if they smell something tasty.

[phesina]

What a beautiful color! The squirrels around here are a dull brownish-grey color.

And the photos of the dunes and the Pipit are lovely. Thank you!

[blue]

UK Red Squirrel with his North American friend.

http://files.myopera.com/akpostal/albums/857054/Redsquirrelized.jpg

[kokopup]

I guess the i 795 Jct is over the next dune.:D

[ramanth]

What a pretty little guy! :D

[Barbara]

Oh what a cute guy :) Our squirrels are also red but I don't think they have a white belly.
And now you see black squirrels as well.

[Randi]

That's a cute little guy! :) I saw one just today at the churchyard, also a red one, but not with a white tummy. I should have brougt my camera.

Thanks for sharing!

[Catty1]

blue - CANADIAN friend! :p

Little red guy sure is cute...I hope the smallpox is gone by the next breeding season. Wee healthy babies all over the place, and maybe with built-in immunity. :)

[ChrisH]

Lovely pictures and video Mizz Z, thank you for sharing with us. :D Beautiful creature but I've yet to see 'real live' one, though not surprising really.

Dramatic decline

Our once common native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has suffered a dramatic population decline in the last century, resulting in local extinctions throughout much of south England, Northern Ireland and Wales and is included as a priority species in the UK government 's conservation initiative, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

In the past, habitat loss and fragmentation contributed to the red squirrel population declines. However, the current threats to the red squirrels' continued survival are thought to be the sustained expansion of populations of the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and with them the potential of squirrel poxvirus transmission.

Squirrelpox Virus

Squirrelpox virus is deadly to red squirrels. Evidence suggests that it originated from grey squirrels transported from North America and, whilst they appear to carry a natural immunity to it, red squirrels do not. Animals infected with the virus seem to suffer a marked decline in their health and die within around two weeks of contracting it. At present, the spread of squirrelpox virus presents the greatest threat to retaining red squirrels across their current range.

Whilst previously recorded in the north of England, the Scottish red squirrel population appeared to be squirrelpox-free until May 2005. Unfortunately the first grey squirrel showing evidence that it had been exposed to the virus (a ‘seropositive’ animal) was then found in the Borders.

http://www.snh.org.uk/ukredsquirrelgroup/

[blue]

blue - CANADIAN friend! :p

I edited the post to North American friend, after all Canada and the USA are also friends.

[Miss Z]

Our once common native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

I always used to wonder why on earth such a beautful species was called 'vulgaris', until I studied Latin and found out it pretty much translates as 'the common one'. :D Wish that were still true.

I have a healthy population of grey squirrels in my back garden (I live next to a little country park, and they thrive here) that love to nick whatever they can off the bird-table. They're very cute but not half as much as our native variety.

Barbara, apparently we're getting a few black squirrels as well that are out-competing the greys. A real case of what-goes-around-comes-around, it seems! :p

Thanks for all the comments.

[Sonia59]

Oh what a cute little guy! :)
We also have red squirrels in France, but I have no idea if they are exactly the same species.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I love squirrels! I had one in Chicago - Shirley -- she came when I called and even when I didn't. My sister was once visiting me and came to me rather puzzled...said there was a squirrel at the back door!

I had some black ones but I must say -- your red squirrel is stunning!

[DJFyrewolf36]

Im actually fond of squirrels...we have several grey ones around our apartment that are fun to watch. They don't mess around though, Ive seen some of the larger squirrels tangle with stray cats and win! :eek:

Thank you for sharing. I hope and pray that the red squirrels can make a comeback.

[Karen]

I just looked it up, because we also have red squirrels here in the US, but it is a different species - Tamiasciurus hudsonicus - instead of your red squirrels, which are Sciurus vulgaris. Have they considered importing some from France, etc., where there are also Sciurus vulgaris?

Thank you for sharing your pictures, they are great.

[Sonia59]

I searched on Internet and indeed, Sciurus vulgaris are the ones we have in France. I have never seen grey ones here, only abroad or in zoos.

[Louie and me]

Loved your photos. We only have the black and grey variety of squirrels here but they are great fun to watch especially in the winter when all we have to look at is snow. The one of Formby dunes brought back fond memories of the many picnics I had there when I still lived in Crosby.

[ChrisH]

I just looked it up, because we also have red squirrels here in the US, but it is a different species - Tamiasciurus hudsonicus - instead of your red squirrels, which are Sciurus vulgaris. Have they considered importing some from France, etc., where there are also Sciurus vulgaris?
Unfortunately they would be just as vulnerable to the squirrel poxvirus. Unless a way is found to provide the red squirrel with the same immunity as the grey the population will surely continue to decline. :( There has been talk of a grey squirrel cull but I for one would really hate to see that happen.

... the current threats to the red squirrels' continued survival are thought to be the sustained expansion of populations of the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and with them the potential of squirrel poxvirus transmission.

Squirrelpox virus is deadly to red squirrels. Evidence suggests that it originated from grey squirrels transported from North America and, whilst they appear to carry a natural immunity to it, red squirrels do not. Animals infected with the virus seem to suffer a marked decline in their health and die within around two weeks of contracting it. At present, the spread of squirrelpox virus presents the greatest threat to retaining red squirrels across their current range.

http://www.snh.org.uk/ukredsquirrelgroup/

[Miss Z]

I just looked it up, because we also have red squirrels here in the US, but it is a different species - Tamiasciurus hudsonicus - instead of your red squirrels, which are Sciurus vulgaris. Have they considered importing some from France, etc., where there are also Sciurus vulgaris?


To add to what Chris said, I'm pretty sure that was attempted a few decades ago in several places, including Formby. The continental race doesn't seem to have boosted numbers particularly. It also met some opposition as the continental subspecies is slightly darker than the British strain and some people believed that we were making our native animals 'impure'. There are however a few areas that never received imported animals that claim to still hold the 'pure' British variety.




I love squirrels! I had one in Chicago - Shirley -- she came when I called and even when I didn't. My sister was once visiting me and came to me rather puzzled...said there was a squirrel at the back door!


Wow! The largest male of the lot in my area is just brave enough to sit and glare at you on the patio if you sit in my garden, but I've never known one that tame!


The one of Formby dunes brought back fond memories of the many picnics I had there when I still lived in Crosby.

Ah, I know Crosby fairly well. :) And I too have been picnicking on Formby beach - since I was a toddler! :p

[Randi]

Well, this time I brought my camera and got a picture of this little guy. :) There was one more, but he ran.

I also love these trees!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/Fister/Grave%20yard/Squirrel-in-tree.jpg

[Sonia59]

That's a cute one! Look at the gorgeous tail! :)

I love the trees too.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Randi! What a fabulous photo of the tree squirrel! Is that a red squirrel?

I wonder if Shirley was a red or a gray squirrel?

I'll have to find a photo...

[Randi]

Sara, that's a red squirrel - I don't think we have grey ones over here.

[Barbara]

I wonder if Shirley was a red or a gray squirrel?



Shirley was definitely no European red squirrel. They are a little smaller (of course;) and Shirley was more brownish. I still love that I got to give her a Brazil nut.

[Killearn Kitties]

My sister was once visiting me and came to me rather puzzled...said there was a squirrel at the back door!
My in-laws used to have a squirrel come up to the back door for a biscuit. Once when they were on holiday and a granny was looking after the house, a window was left open at the back and squirrel came into the house looking for her biscuit. A lot of panicking, screaming and running around ensued before poor squirrel found her way back out of the window.

She was a grey squirrel. The only red squirrel I have ever seen was in Germany.

[Edwina's Secretary]

:D:D Shirley never got in the house but would have if she could have! She was always peeking in windows and more than once came up to the chaise I was sitting in outside and demanded my attention.

I will look this evening and see if I can find photos of her.

[Miss Z]

Randi - you did well to get a picture of one in the trees! They're like lightening once they get moving through the branches! :eek:

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Well, this time I brought my camera and got a picture of this little guy. :) There was one more, but he ran.

I also love these trees!



Hey Randi!! Is that the tree we admired so much when we visited the churchyard? It is really beautiful isn't it!! Beautiful squirrel too :love::)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/berlut/a1-3.jpg

ps. Sorry for not posting the other pics from our cruise yet; I am so busy preparing everything for our 30th anniversary celebration next saturday....

[krazyaboutkatz]

When I was living in S.C.,we ended up having a pet squirrel for a while. We later had to let him live in our yard and he'd sometimes jump on our neighbors shoulders and scare them. It was very interesting that some of the other squirrels also became more friendly and they'd come close to us so we could feed them. He was the typical brownish grey and we ended up calling him Gray. He liked to ride on our shoulders and play with us. As time went on he eventually left our yard probably to mate and we never saw him again.

The red squirrels sure are gorgeous. Hopefully they'll continue to thrive.

[Killearn Kitties]

Remember I said I had only ever seen a red squirrel in Germany? Well, I saw my first one here yesterday! We were at a beautiful National Trust property yesterday, The Hermitage in Perthshire, and there was a red squirrel running along the path beside us. Didn't manage to get a picture, but the squirrel was very pretty. :D