British/European red squirrels

[goosey]

I have seen lots of red Squirrels over the last few weeks here in Holland and I am sure that ours are larger than the British Reds. Does anyone know if this is actually true or just a figment of my imagination?

[H Dogg]

Interesting, I know there is alot of variance in individuals in different habitats, for example in deciduous woodland they usually weigh more than ones in pine forests, but this can reverse in winter depending on forest productivity. There was a study in Belgium which shows them to be larger av. 305-340g in decid. woodland compared to 297g, which is quite a difference. If its a richer habitat they will be bigger. Also melanism is more common in Europe compared to Britain were it is relatively rare. There are around 40 sub-species across the world so it is a variable one.

[goosey]

Thanks H. I have never thought that a squirrels weight depended on habitat and what they eat, don´t know why it makes perfect sense. The ones I saw in Cumbria at Dodd wood were in a predominantly a pine area. The sqirrels I see here are in mixed woodland but I usually see them in or around pines or oaks.

[Jean-Bernard Brisset]

Could anyone tell me how I can tame my red squirels. we have a large garden with many trees in Normandie. I feed them with nuts, I even am on the watch as our neigbours cat has already killed one.
Why are our squirrels so fearful of us when we do everything possible to make then happy.
Two years ago, we stayed in Vienna and visited 2 or 3 times the magnificent Shoenbrunn garden planted with huge high yielding turkish hazelnuts trees.
There were dozens of red squirrels that came and eat in our hands.
Besides, I would like to know how can I possibly get rid of that terrible cat of my neighbour.
Thank You,
Jean-Bernard Brisset

[paul m]

Welcome to the site and best wishes for your project. Many of us, I suspect, would like to eliminate the neighbours' cats!

I have no experience of red squirrels - they have long been extinct in places where I've lived.

They are, I gather, much more shy than grey squirrels therefore need the ver best food. I'm sorry to hear that cats have taken your squirrels - were the victims young? While we have (too) many cats in our neighbourhood, I have never seen them take an adult grey squirrel - more commonly youngsters.

Originally Posted by Jean-Bernard Brisset

Could anyone tell me how I can tame my red squirels. we have a large garden with many trees in Normandie. I feed them with nuts, I even am on the watch as our neigbours cat has already killed one.
Why are our squirrels so fearful of us when we do everything possible to make then happy.
Two years ago, we stayed in Vienna and visited 2 or 3 times the magnificent Shoenbrunn garden planted with huge high yielding turkish hazelnuts trees.
There were dozens of red squirrels that came and eat in our hands.
Besides, I would like to know how can I possibly get rid of that terrible cat of my neighbour.
Thank You,
Jean-Bernard Brisset

[goosey]

Hello Jean-Bernard and welcome .
It is such a shame you have a problem with your neighbours cat, but you are so lucky to be able to enjoy the squirrels that come to feed.
It must be a natural defensive instinct of the squirrels which will save them from the cat and other dangers. They come and feed, so they are reasonably comfortable with the situation, perhaps over time they will begin to trust you a bit more - they can't possibly know your intentions are good!

You probably can't stop the cat or get rid of it, but try being nice to the neighbour and explain how you want to attract the squirrels but the cat is a problem, ask if they could possibly fit the cat with a couple of bells on the collar ( offer to buy the collar and bells), you can't stop the cat coming to your garden but at least alert the squirrels he is around. The best way is to try and make your neighbour as interested in the squirrels as you are.

I imagine the ones you saw in Vienna are so use to human attention and the treats they bring that they are almost tame, and probably reliant on that food.

Feeding birds is the same, I care for them everyday worry about their young change their diet through the year and as soon as I walk out side most flee, but a couple know I will give them a meal worm and will follow me around.

Enjoy your squirrels, as I say you are very lucky, do you have any photo's of them for the gallery?

[Jean-Bernard Brisset]

I thought our neighbours cat had killed a second squirrel, but the nuts I put in a special wooden box have been recently eaten. As you point out our love of squirrels is without return and we just have to put up with it. But don't you thing that killing squirrels by proxy (in my case, my neighbours cat) should be a case for the SPCA. After alls cats are not an endangered species, but red squirrels are. But what can we do against french cats, they probably have their own union.
Jean-Bernard