The red squirrel, an endangered animal species, is part of the Sciuridae family and is a mammal. The red squirrel is an omnivorous rodent it typically lives in tree trunks so they can keep an eye out for predators. The red squirrel is a least concerned species even though at youth around 75% of red squirrels won't survive their first winter. An average height for a squirrel is 19cm-23cm, the tail length is 15cm-20cm. Males and females are the same heights so the average is for both male and female. They can weigh up to 400g.

The red squirrel is indigenous to Europe and parts of the Asian continent. The red squirrel was the only sub specie of the squirrel but this changed when the grey squirrel was founded in America in the late 1800s. There are many red squirrels but it can't compete with the grey squirrel in population. In able to climb up trees the red squirrel has sharp curved claws.
The red squirrel lives in dreys (nests) normally made of twigs and are positioned on tree trunks away from any potential danger. The drey is lined with parts of surroundings like bark, moss and other things red squirrels can get their hands on. The red squirrel is an animal that keeps to itself to itself and is weary to share its food and findings with another squirrel but during hibernation season (winter) it tends to stay warm with other squirrels in the same drey but this would never happen during breeding season.
The male squirrel is not always the most dominant out of females and males this depends on age size whoever is older and larger is normally more superior. During mating season the males would chase the female in some cases for hours in order to mate; in most cases more than one male would be chasing. The first one to catch her would mate with her. Male squirrels would mate with several different females in their lifetimes. The female would normally give birth to around four young squirrels it would take about 40 days to get to this stage. When born and for the next four weeks the young squirrel is unable to open its eyes (so are blind) and they are deaf. They are looked after alone by their mothers. They leave their mother at 40 days but can stay longer. The age expectancy is 3 years but is known to live up to 7 years and in captivity can live up to 10.

The red squirrel feeds off seeds, berries, bird eggs and nuts mainly chestnuts. Most of their food is stored underground in aid for hibernation. Its memory is not very good so after hibernation it will search for food for long periods of time.
The main predators of the squirrel are Pine Martens, wild cats and the stoat this is when the squirrel is up on the tree trunks. When on ground the main predators are owls, raptors, goshawks and buzzards also dogs and red foxes pose a threat. The squirrel would rest during the middle of the day to avoid heat to hide from birds.
We have impacted on squirrel’s lives by scaring them, another big impact caused by humans not so much in the UK but in the USA is road kill, and hundreds of squirrels are killed on the road every year in America alone.