Red Squirrel

Red squirrel chewing on an acorn.
The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a tree squirrel which can be found throughout the forests of Europe and northern Asia. However, great changes in population densities have been observed over the last century and it has, for instance, almost disappeared from Britain and other parts of Europe.

It is a diurnal arboreal rodent that feeds on coniferous seeds, nuts, and even mushrooms such as deer truffles, and eggs. It has a long and fluffy furry tail, and its coat color may vary a lot, ranging from red to black, including various shades of brown. Red squirrels can live up to 6 or 7 years in the wild, although the average lifespan is probably between 2 and 4 years. They are constantly on the alert, watching out for predators, which include more particularly pine martens and birds of prey.

The caption reads in the original French: Écureuil commun d’Europe (Sciurus vulgaris).