Gallery

A Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) mating chase in a park in Southampton.
Grey squirrel mating chase
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Nuts and seeds are pushed into the cache hole using the nose and, as illustrated on this Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) on the Isle of Wight, this often makes it obvious what the squirrel has been up to.
Red squirrel with muddy nose
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A Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) caching a nut in the lawn. This behaviour is innate in both Reds and Greys.
Grey squirrel caching
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A Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) eating an acorn retrieved from a lawn cache. It has been suggested time spent in a cache may leach tannins and make the acorns more palatable.
Grey squirrel eating acorn
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A Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) drey. Winter dreys, such as this one in the New Forest, are thick-walled structures constructed from interwoven leaves, twigs and bark strips. They can reach approximately the size of a football.
Grey squirrel drey (New Forest)
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There are an estimated 2 million Grey squirrels in Britain, implying they outnumber Red squirrels 10-1.
Grey squirrel in Southampton
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A Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) displaying melanistic (black) pelage. This colour morph is increasingly common in parts of England (e.g. Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire), where they may equal or even out-number grey morphs.
Melanistic grey squirrel
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Squirrels have a tail almost as long as their body, which helps them balance when moving through the trees and turning at speed.
Red squirrel at Alverstone
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A Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) showing typical fur colouration.
Grey squirrel on lawn
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A Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in its winter coat.
Red squirrel feeding on branch
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A close-up of a hedgehog at the British Wildlife Centre, illustrating the facial features, including the external ear.
Hedgehog face
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A European adder (Vipera berus), Britain's only venomous snake.
Yawning adder
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A European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Britain.
European hedgehog
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The Eastern Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
Grey squirrel on lawn
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A Eurasian Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).
Red squirrel on feeding stump
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A European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).
Hedgehog on driveway
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A European badger (Meles meles) illustrating the striking contrast in the facial mask.
Badger mask
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A Red fox digging at its earth. Do foxes bury their dead kin, though?
Red fox digging earth
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Both male and female badgers disperse, but it's more common in adults (i.e. >2 years old) than juveniles.
Badger in grass
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A European badger (Meles meles).
European badger
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