Squirrels

We have two types of squirrel in the UK; grey squirrels and red squirrels.

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

  • Native
  • Inhabits heathland, moorland and woodland.
  • Found in Scotland, Lake District and Northumberland with isolated populations in the south of England.
  • Reddish brown coat with a white stomach. Large tufts on the ears and bushy tail.
  • Since the introduction of grey squirrels, red squirrel populations have declined from 3.5 million to between 120,000 to 160,000.

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

  • Invasive, non native, introduced in the 1800s from America
  • Has adapted to live in the vast majority of UK habitats
  • The grey squirrel has unfortunately directly contributed to the decline of red squirrel populations. This has occurred through outcompeting red squirrels for resources and spreading squirrel pox.
  • Silver coat with a white stomach. Bushy tail and no ear tufts. Greys can vary in colour and may be slightly ginger.

Squirrel Rescue

Signs that a squirrel is sick or injured include:

  • Not moving or moving very slowly if you approach it
  • Obvious injuries, for example if it's been hit by a car or caught by a cat or dog
  • Swollen or sore areas on the face, which can be a sign of infection
  • Hunched-over posture

Injured Grey Squirrels

Due to the Invasive Alien Species Order 2019 we can no longer rehabilitate and release grey squirrels, even if they've been injured and treated.

In instances where a grey squirrel is injured or unwell, the best option is to contact your local vet.

To transport a squirrel to the vet:

Be careful - squirrels have sharp teeth and can be extremely fast.

Wear thick gloves and quickly place the squirrel into a secure metal or plastic pet carrier with ventilation holes, lined with a towel or newspaper.

Trapped Grey Squirrels

If the squirrel is trapped (for example in a bird feeder or your house), free it. The law still permits freeing squirrels and releasing them where they were found. If the grey squirrel has only minor injuries, it's best to leave them in the wild.

Injured Red Squirrels

The law does not affect red squirrels, so it's still legal to rehabilitate and release red squirrel and infants. If the red squirrel is injured or orphaned, take it to your closest wildlife rescue centre.

Wear thick gloves and quickly place the squirrel into a secure metal or plastic pet carrier with ventilation holes, lined with a towel or newspaper.



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