Psilos mammal photography

Native, once common squirrel died out in England as a direct result of the introduction of the North American Grey squirrel. Bigger and stronger the greys competed for food and nesting habitat and drove out and often killed the smaller reds. The red squirrel can still be found naturally up in the North of Scotland where the greys have yet to populate. Populations of reds found in England are a direct result of reintroducing the species. Red squirrels seem to succeed in coniferous plantations, a habitat disliked by the greys. The reds photographed below are to be found at the nature reserve at Freshfield, Formby. In Britain, female squirrels normally give birth in March and April, and possibly again in June or July if enough food is available. Young squirrels are called kittens.