In Continental Europe, squirrels are still red:
Here in Britain, our squirrels are American greys, introduced in the 19th Century most probably as "cute pets". I have only once seen red squirrels in the wild, in Regents Park, by London Zoo, when I was about eight years old. Almost all British squirrels are now the bigger and more aggressive greys.
Red squirrels are nowadays seen only in children's books and associated merchandise, like this Beatrix Potter teapot:
Forever lost in the UK:
WISHING Y'ALL A WONDERFUL WEEKEND~! :-)
Only ever seen one in the wild and that was outside Leningrad 30 years ago!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many squirrel types we have - I'm sure I've seen reddish squirrels here but I could be really wrong. I know there are lots of grey and black ones - lately I've noticed a lot with a flashy white under-tail which is new to me but then I don't pay that much attention - or hadn't until I got the dog who goes crazy whenever he sees a squirrel.
ReplyDeleteDon't you get ground squirrels in America? We never get those.
ReplyDeleteChipmunks are apparently running around wild, having "escaped" from people I somehow suspect were tired of cleaning them out/etc... in continental Europe they somehow have RACCOONS. Which are NOT native to this continent. Despite a ridiculous scene in the most recent 1001 Dalmations. How on earth Disney let that through without some member of the (presumably British) crew saying "look this is ridiculous, you won't see a natural wild raccoon within 3500 miles of here" I do not understand