A symbol of Britain - the Red Squirrel.

[Catty1]

blue - CANADIAN friend!

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.

[blue]

blue - CANADIAN friend!

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'. 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!

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!

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.

[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]

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.