[Gaz Shilton]

We have numerous Red Squirrels visit our garden here in Germany on a daily basis. Maximum of 5 at one time. My question is this:Is there only 1 species of this squirrel? The reason I ask is because we get normal red and a dark version tinged with red which is smaller.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Gaz,

Yes, just one species, two different colour phases, red phase and melanistic phase. A bit like Arctic Skua with its pale phase and dark phase.

The melanistic phase gets commoner the further east you go, they don't occur in Britain, but are (as far as I know) the dominant phase in Siberia.

Michael

[birdman]

I can confirm the observation of both red squirrel and a "black squirrel" from Slovenia a few years back, from personal experience.

[alanhill]

It was sad to read in today's papers (eg the Times) of the Newcastle University report (published in 'Conservation Genetics') which predicts that red squirrels in England are on the brink of extinction, in spite of considerable efforts to save them. It says that numbers are now so small that a single viral outbreak could wipe the species out altogether.

Alan Hill

[very boring banned member]

We do not have melanistic Sciurus over here, but the first picture looks just like what our animals are in winter plumage, two latter represent summer plumage.

[Michael Frankis]

Originally Posted by Karwin

We do not have melanistic Sciurus over here, but the first picture looks just like what our animals are in winter plumage, two latter represent summer plumage.

Plumage?!? . . . I see no plumes (feathers) . . . .

Pelage (fur) is what they have

Michael

[very boring banned member]

Originally Posted by Michael Frankis

Plumage?!? . . . I see no plumes (feathers) . . . .

Pelage (fur) is what they have

Michael

I am always happy to offer a vöyräs laugh, also for or to all native English speakers.

[johncoxon]

The nearest red squirrels to my home in Salford are on the coast in a conservation area owned by the national trust. We only see grey squirrels here and they are very common and ever on the increase. In the 1940 , the red squireel was common all over Britain, but a later survey in the 1990's showed them only in tiny pockets and the grey is completely dominant. The grey arrived here from the United States in the mid 1800's when a pair were introduced by rich Victorian landowners to their Estate in Henley Cheshire. the greys are much bigger, les timid and much more adapatbale. They are found in larger numbers now in Scotland. Here is a link to one of my galleries with shots of the grey squirrel. Funny, i have never seen a red squirrel in the wild yet, but it is my ambition to seek them out soon.
http://johncoxon.com/gallery/Squirrels

[johncoxon]

By the way. I know just one word of Finish! For a non native speaker to come up with a word like "plumage" impresses the hell out of me. I learned a new word tonight. Pelage. I have never heard that word used to describe fur. I am fifty four soon and must get out more !!

[gthang]

Here in the USA, I see a red squirrel (The non-tufted American ones, mind you) every now and then. they're kind of a cross between chipmunks and our grey squirrels: Crazy buggers (squirrel part), but hardly seen (chipmunk part).

Sometimes, I see a red thing out in the yard, and most of the times i think red squirrel. but if the tail is too short, it's a chippy. By the way, what is the scientific name of the chipmunk we get?

[very boring banned member]

Originally Posted by gthang

By the way, what is the scientific name of the chipmunk we get?

Tamias striatus (eastern chipmunk).

[Joern Lehmhus]

Does anybody know something about the status of the established population of Sciurus carolinensis (Grey Squirrel) in Northern Italy--as far as I know they are spreading quite rapidly and people there are very much against any culling campain, "because they are so cute".
So if this is true we also might loose our Red Squirrels within a century ?!

Joern

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Joern,

That's about the same as what I'd heard

Michael

[pauco]

Originally Posted by johncoxon

The nearest red squirrels to my home in Salford are on the coast in a conservation area owned by the national trust. We only see grey squirrels here and they are very common and ever on the increase. In the 1940 , the red squireel was common all over Britain, but a later survey in the 1990's showed them only in tiny pockets and the grey is completely dominant. The grey arrived here from the United States in the mid 1800's when a pair were introduced by rich Victorian landowners to their Estate in Henley Cheshire. the greys are much bigger, les timid and much more adapatbale. They are found in larger numbers now in Scotland. Here is a link to one of my galleries with shots of the grey squirrel. Funny, i have never seen a red squirrel in the wild yet, but it is my ambition to seek them out soon.
http://johncoxon.com/gallery/Squirrels

John have a trip to formby pine woods, its a good day's birding, and great for red squirrel's.
bert.

[johncoxon]

Took your advice and got these! http://www.johncoxon.com/gallery/red-squirrel