The Red Squirrel

(Iora Rua)

Status : The Irish Red Squirrel is Threatened

Description : The red squirrel is a small, reddish, tree living mammal with a long bushy tail.
Diet : Their diet consists of nuts, acorns and cones. They especially love pine cones. They often strip the bark from the trunks of forest conifer trees. In some parts of Ireland whole plantations have been damaged.
Behaviour : They build their nests in trees well above the ground. The nest is made of leaves , twigs and grasses. Red Squirrels can breed twice in a season and can have up to six young. They are lively during the day, especially in the morning.
Habitat : They live almost all the time in coniferous forests. Their nest is called a drey.
Threats : The larger fiercer Grey squirrels and thinning forests.
Protection : They are protected species under the wildlife act of 1976.

This picture shows the population of red squirrels in Britain and Ireland. (In black)

By : Alice and Ross