The red squirrel is a rodent whose fur can sometimes be brown to almost black. Although it is an expert in climbing and aerial acrobatics, it is not so easy to spot. Observing it therefore requires a lot of patience and discretion.
Where does the squirrel live?
This tightrope walker makes its nest in the crown of trees, at about 6 to 8 m high, well protected from predators . It is often encountered on the edges of forests, hedgerows and sometimes even in the most beautiful urban parks.
The winter nest, called a “hood” , is a ball 30 to 50 cm in diameter. It is skillfully made of twigs, branches and lined with moss, hair, feathers, lichens, and even string and labels gleaned from the surrounding area.
The summer nest is smaller and simpler, always made of branches, sometimes in the form of a simple platform. The squirrel can also shelter in the hole of a hollow tree, lined with leaves and moss.
Squirrels breed in early spring and sometimes again in early summer . The young are born after 40 days of gestation. We can gradually see 3 to 5 young emerge from the nest, after about 6 to 7 weeks. No more than a quarter of them will survive to the age of one year.
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What does the squirrel eat?
His favorite meals are pine nuts , hazelnuts, walnuts, acorns, and apples . Failing that, he also enjoys corn or wheat grains.
The squirrel loves to hide its food reserves in the four corners of the garden! You may be able to observe it diligently burying the seeds in the soil… and see the seeds germinate because it has forgotten them!
The reasons for the disappearance of the squirrel
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Predators:
The most dangerous predator for the squirrel is the pine marten, which can climb trees to the height of the nests. Then come the cat, the marten, the dog and the fox. The American gray squirrel has almost made the red squirrel disappear from England, and the Korean squirrel, quite aggressive, could also compete strongly with it and bring diseases.
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The fragmentation of its habitat:
The removal of hedges, groves, dense and spreading forests, gradually reduces its vital refuge.
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Densification of road networks:
It prevents the free movement of squirrels, disperses the young ones, weakens them, and represents a source of accidents.
How to protect and shelter the squirrel?
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The establishment of road crossings:
Some municipalities have set up road crossings for squirrels. These consist of ropes stretched high up, punctuated with walnut shells to attract them and thus limit accidents.
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Create squirrel nest boxes:
You can hang a squirrel nest box in a tree, at least 4 m high, ideally above a branch, against the trunk. These rectangular wooden nest boxes, approximately 30 cm x 20 cm and 20 cm high, have a slightly wider roof and 3 entrances or exits of 5 cm (one below, one on the side and one on the length).
Secure your nest box securely and make sure it is near bushes, a hedge, or a thicket so the squirrel can sneak out.
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Restore ecological corridors
An ecological corridor is a set of natural elements and artificial devices that facilitate the movement of squirrels on their territory with the least possible risk. It allows them to stay in the trees without going through the ground, to avoid roads and obstacles such as buildings or waterways.
Here are some tips for setting up an ecological corridor:
When pruning or felling trees in your garden, be careful not to break the corridors and not to cut off the squirrels’ food territory. They would be forced to descend to the ground, with the dangers that we know about.
Identifying opportunities to improve corridors to bring squirrels to new territories is also a possibility. It is then necessary to identify the most suitable places to reconnect the woods between them, either by restoring linear hedgerows, or by installing new “relay” trees and passage ropes – or “bridge” branches.
