A to Z challenge 2023 – S is for . . .

 

A to Z challenge 2023 – S is for . . .

My theme for this challenge is Nature in all much of her wonderful diversity. My posts will reflect the fact that I am resident in the south of England.

All photographs in this post are the property of the writer.

Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)

Grey squirrels were introduced from North America to the British Isles by the Victorians in the 19^th century. They were first reported as escaping and setting up a wild population in 1876. Since then they have expanded exponentially across the British Isles, driving our native red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) out into wilder, remoter areas.

Red squirrels have lived in Great Britain for more than 10,000 years and conservation projects have been active for decades to protect them from the advance of grey squirrels.

Demonised by many as tree rats and vermin, grey squirrels continue to enchant the less pragmatic among us, as they chase each other up and down tree trunks or sit on branches high above and scold us.

The Irish poet, W.B.Yeats, wrote ‘To a Squirrel at Kyle–Na-No’ in 1917.

Come play with me;

Why should you run

Through the shaking tree

As though I’d a gun

To strike you dead?

When all I would do

Is to scratch your head

And let you go.

Squirrels have double-jointed ankles which allow them to change the angle of their sharp-clawed feet, an important asset for moving quickly up and down trees. Their broad tails, almost as long as the body of the animal, are an important aid to balance as they leap from tree to tree, although squirrels who have lost part or even the entirety of their tails do not seem to be adversely affected.

The major part of a squirrel’s diet consists of nuts and seeds, though they will supplement those with flowers, pine cones, buds and sometimes nestlings and eggs. They are intelligent animals, attracted to gardens whose owners take pleasure in feeding birds and are expert at finding ways of appropriating food not intended for them. They defy human efforts to deny them access to feeders, defeating even the most elaborate protective devices.

Autumn preparations for winter involve them collecting and caching acorns and nuts underground to be unearthed when food becomes scarce. They have been observed pretending to bury food in an effort to deceive squirrels that may be watching, so that their actual supply remains safe.

Squirrels are not aggressively territorial and can live together quite peaceably in an area, though this may change in the breeding season. Usually, there are two litters of three or four kits in February and March, and again in June and July. The kits are born in the drey (nest) and are blind, deaf and naked and completely helpless at birth. At four weeks of age their eyes are open and at six weeks they start to explore beyond the drey. By the time they are eight weeks old, they look more like their parents, and begin foraging. They become independent at around twelve weeks.

Contrary to popular belief, squirrels do not hibernate. If the weather is exceptionally cold they may sleep longer in their nests, with their tails wrapped around themselves for extra warmth, before venturing out to dig up their food larders.  

Perhaps one of the most famous squirrels in literature is Beatrix Potter’s Nutkin, in The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, (1903) a naughty, aggravating little squirrel who refuses to help, and loses his tail to Old Brown, the owl.

Tufty Fluffytail is RoSPA’s (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) red squirrel character who entertained and educated millions of children about road safety from the 1950s to the 1990s.

The Tufty Club, formed in 1961, also gave invaluable advice about child safety in the home and around water. A plethora of merchandise helped to keep Tufty in the public eye.

Tufty is still working, still trying to keep young children safe, with updated advice, including giving warnings about the potential distraction of mobile devices.

Squirrels, both red and grey, have contributed much to life in the UK.