Red Squirrels on the Isle of Wight

When I was on the Isle of Wight, Eileen and I went to see if we could find the Red Squirrels.  The I.O.W. have no Grey Squirrels, in fact if anyone sees one, they have to report it to the authorities.  It was not long before one appeared on the ground in front of the hide however unfortunately for us, someone had thrown nuts on the roof of the hide and that is where the Squirrel decided to eat.  It was not as good for photographs from our point of view as the Squirrel was never totally in view.  Now, grab you cuppa, put into slide mode and enjoy this lovely animal.

There are quite a number of places to find the Red Squirrel on the island however this Squirrel was seen at Alverstone Mead Nature Reserve.

The small and isolated but thriving population of 3,500 red squirrels on the Isle of Wight is very important. Although a British native, the red squirrel is an endangered species. 

With its familiar bushy tail and tufted ears, the red squirrel is easily recognised, yet sightings of it are increasingly rare in Britain, especially in southern England.

Its struggle for survival began in the late 1800s with the introduction of its bigger and stronger North American cousin, the grey squirrel. Grey squirrels out-compete reds for habitat and they carry the squirrelpox virus - fatal to reds. The Isle of Wight is special because it has no grey squirrels. 

Red squirrels produce litters of three to four kittens a year. They do not hibernate, but will stay in their dreys during bad weather – although they have to come out to feed.  Important food sources are hazelnuts and seeds from native Scots pine.

They supplement their diet with nuts from other trees such as beech and sweet chestnut, and with berries and, occasionally, fungi and insects. The red squirrel’s life expectancy is six years but only about one in six survives to adulthood.  Cars, cats and dogs but also foxes, weasels and larger birds, especially buzzards, spell danger.

The National Trust are also actively managing woodland to support a healthy population of red squirrels. At Newtown and Borthwood, small areas of Hazel are coppiced on an eight to 14 year cycle to create a varied habitat.

It is illegal to bring a Grey Squirrels into a Red Squirrels territory.   The penalty is 2 years imprisonment or £5,000 fine.

The last time I saw Red Squirrels was when I took my grand children to the same spot and we were able to hand feed them on that occasion.  If you wish to see these photographs, CLICK HERE.

The video can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/RYaV1cAq1C8

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.

I hope you enjoyed this post.

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I am linking this post with Saturday's Critters.