Red Squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, known as the American red squirrel, is a small, agile tree squirrel native to North America. Adults typically measure 28-35 cm in total length and weigh 200-280g. Their fur is reddish-brown dorsally with a white or cream-colored belly, and they often have a distinctive white eye ring. Red squirrels are diurnal and highly territorial. They generally breed once or twice a year, typically in early spring and mid-summer, producing litters of 3-7 young after a gestation period of 31-35 days. Young are weaned at approximately 7-8 weeks of age. Their average lifespan in the wild is 3-5 years.

Red squirrels are famously vocal and highly territorial, vigorously defending their 'middens' – large caches of conifer cones – from intruders with chattering calls, tail flicks, and aggressive chases. They are primarily arboreal but will forage on the ground. Their diet consists mainly of conifer seeds, but also includes nuts, fungi, bird eggs, and small vertebrates. Red squirrels are scatter-hoarders, though they extensively cache food in central middens, often creating underground tunnels. In human dwellings, their incessant gnawing to maintain dental health can damage wooden structures, electrical wiring, and insulation, creating fire hazards and structural instability.