THROUGHOUT THE VAST majority of the UK our native, dainty red squirrels are the stuff of mere folk memory, having been supplanted years ago by the artificially introduced, more vigorous and assertive North American grey. Apart from in children's books, I've only set eyes on these once, in Regents Park, by London Zoo, when I was about 8 years old.
When I came back to said park and perused zoo entrance, grey squirrels were everywhere and nary a red one to be seen...
They are smaller, far redder, and have tuftier ears:
I take it this one's in winter coat (look at those tufts!):
Don't they have massive paws:
Here's a baby, whose tufts haven't grown, digging up intellectual nuts:
A post about squirrels! I am so pleased even if it is about the Reds.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels freak me out! I rarely see them back home, but here in Milwaukee, they are everywhere! When I walk down the streets, they run right in front of me, to a nearby tree and scamper up. It's so unnerving because, they come out of nowhere and I'm always afraid, one of them is going to mistake me for a tree and climb up me and scratch the hell out of my face. Plus, aren't they full of rabies and other diseases? Ew...groce.
ReplyDeleteLovely! I really appreciate those photographs. I wish I had seen the squirrels live.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy watching the squirrels in my yard--all the NA gray type, unfortunately. Alex in joys watching them, too, but he enjoys chasing them more.
Have a grand day, my friend!
How cute, especially the reds with their long ear tufts. We don't have squirrels here but have all sorts of other wild life to make up for it. I'd love to see a squirrel. Guess I'll have to take a trip to Europe or the US...
ReplyDeleteGleds we might have possums and kangaroos, cute fuzzy and huge (well we have lots of little furry jumpers too) but no squirrels unfortunately. Last time I saw them was in London too . .St James Park I think. Man they can move but never ever seen a red one.
ReplyDeleteHi Gleds ~ ~ Thanks so much for your comments and good wishes. It sure is good to feel better after 6 weeks of
ReplyDeletepain on walking.
I enjoyed seeing the squirrels. They look so cute and nice, especially the last one. I hope you are doing well, my friend. I wish you the very best of luck for your future, and if you can drop the heroin, you will have a future. Take great care,
Regards, Merle.
Those squirrels are so cute.
ReplyDeleteJanice~
I enjoyed looking at those pictures. I didn't realise that red squirrels were so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteKitten: I'm so sorry my memory's like a seive!! Did you get tagged that by Melody?...? In which case I might have tagged it to her originally anyhow. I have answered something v like that one b4 but hey why not I'll do it again with 10 even MORE embarrassing things har har...
ReplyDeleteSquirrel: but aren't red squirrels fantastic..??!?
DT: diseases and squirrels ~ yes you have to be careful. And don't be too taken in: though pretty fearless they are known to BITE viciously with their nutcracking gnashers...
Nick: they're trying to eradicate grey squirrels totally from this country which is ridiculous ... like trying to eradicate pigeons. As I say I've only seen live, wild red squirrels ONCE and when I went back (20 years later) not a hide nor hair of one to be seen!
Puss in Boots: Dont' know about reds but grey squirrels are really tame (like pigeons) they come right up to you! (I touched ones tale once but was told be careful as they're apt to turn round and BITE!...)
Baino: they're VERY fast. I've only ever known a cat to catch a (healthy) one once in my life...
Merle: thanks Merle ~ hope you get better soon ;->...
Janice: gorgeous, aren't they!!
Lesley: they're very nice and as I say a little smaller than greys, plus have that very cute posture with the tail bushed in an S-shape...
I came by this post by Rita's blog.
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable squirrels.I wish they were in America.
I feed birds and squirrels and I love them .
Brad