The native Red Squirrel was widespread in Britain untill the introduction of the American Grey Squirrel a century or so ago. As the larger Grey established its self and spread, the Red began to die out, as it could not compete as well for food, and the Grey's carried Squirrel Pox with them from America. This disease has little effect on the Grey's, but is deady to our native Red Squirrels.
Now there only a few pockets of Red's left in England, and the Grey's are spreading north well into Scotland.
All pictures are Copyright of Richard Revels FRPS
A native Red Squirrel, Speyside, Scotland. January 2009.
Speyside, January 2009.
Speyside, January 2009.
Speyside, January 2009.
Speyside, January 2009.
Speyside, January 2009.
Speyside, January 2009.
The indroduced American Grey Squirrel eating acorn.
American Grey Squirrel.
A Grey drinking.
Unlike our native Reds, Grey Squirrels do a great deal of harm in our countryside.
In some areas there are black coated variants of the Grey Squirrel.