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What sort of this squirrel? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter maist
- Start date
Hi Maist
I moved your thread to the Mammals forum and subscribed you to it, so you should be able to find it easily.
I moved your thread to the Mammals forum and subscribed you to it, so you should be able to find it easily.
Hi,
It might be an Eastern Grey Squirrel - an invasive species in Europe which seems to threaten the native Red Squirrel population.
Regards,
Henning
It might be an Eastern Grey Squirrel - an invasive species in Europe which seems to threaten the native Red Squirrel population.
Regards,
Henning
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
I hadn't realised that it had been introduced in to mainland Europe, thought it was just the UK.
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
Red Squirrel for my money, proportions look wrong for Eastern Grey Squirrel and the colour looks wrong (not black enough) for the black phase of the latter. Eastern Grey Squirrels were introduced to Italy where they are expanding. Lunacy.
John
John
Hi Andy,
A couple of years ago, I saw what I suppose what was an Eastern Grey Squirrel in a park in Munich, and I was told that there was a small population of them locally.
I'm aware that there are very dark examples of the Red Squirrel, but I have no idea whether they would be few in between, or whether it's possible that closely related squirrels in a certain location would all be very dark.
I've read about a population in Italy, which is not that far from Munich ... but on the other hand, I've also read that the Eastern Grey Squirrel is not so well adapted to mountain habitats, and to reach Munich, the Italian squirrels would have to cross the Alps first.
Regards,
Henning
A couple of years ago, I saw what I suppose what was an Eastern Grey Squirrel in a park in Munich, and I was told that there was a small population of them locally.
I'm aware that there are very dark examples of the Red Squirrel, but I have no idea whether they would be few in between, or whether it's possible that closely related squirrels in a certain location would all be very dark.
I've read about a population in Italy, which is not that far from Munich ... but on the other hand, I've also read that the Eastern Grey Squirrel is not so well adapted to mountain habitats, and to reach Munich, the Italian squirrels would have to cross the Alps first.
Regards,
Henning
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Hi Henning,
here in Russia, we often see blackish, Red Squirrels and I agree that this is what this is.
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Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Why what? Why introduced - dunno; why lunacy - well, given the outcome here, why would you expect a different outcome in continental Europe i.e. eventual extinction of native Red Squirrel? Across a continent it will just take longer, that's all.
John
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Yes, why as you say, given their less than successful record in the UK, would they release them in Europe, makes no sense?
Unless it was some kind of misguided government initiative, it's illegal to release a non native species isn't it, certainly in the UK?
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Julian Perry
Active member
Black morph is typically the most common colour form in the spruce and fir forests of central and eastern Europe, since presumably the darker fur colour makes them far less conspicuous and better blend into the darker shade of denser coniferous forests. Red morphs would stand out and be more vulnerable to predation.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
