Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are known for their striking orange-red fur, but their colour can vary from ginger to dark brown. They also develop distinctive ear tufts in winter

They prefer mixed or broadleaf woodlands but are increasingly restricted to conifer forests due to competition from grey squirrels

Red squirrels primarily eat seeds, nuts, berries, and fungi. They have a particular fondness for hazelnuts

Unlike grey squirrels, red squirrels do not hibernate. They store food in various locations to ensure they have enough to eat during the winter

Red squirrels typically have two breeding seasons per year, in early spring and late summer. Females give birth to litters of three to four kittens after a gestation period of about 38-39 days

In the wild, red squirrels usually live for about three years, although they can live up to ten years in captivity

Red squirrels are considered a species of least concern globally, but their populations are declining in some areas due to habitat loss and competition with the invasive grey squirrel

While they are typically a rusty red, red squirrels can also be brown, black, or even blonde. Their fur changes with the seasons, becoming thicker and darker in winter

Red squirrels often forget where they buried their food. This forgetfulness helps new trees grow, earning them the nickname "nature's tree planters"

Red squirrels are surprisingly good swimmers. There have been sightings of them swimming across lakes and rivers

One of their most distinctive features is their ear tufts, which are more prominent in winter. These tufts can sometimes fall off during moulting but grow back quickly

Although primarily vegetarians, red squirrels occasionally eat small birds and their eggs

Red squirrels are incredibly agile and can leap between trees with ease. Their sharp claws and strong hind legs help them navigate their arboreal habitat

They build nests called dreys out of twigs, moss, and leaves, usually located

high in trees near the trunk