Red squirrel — facts for kids
Sciurus vulgaris
The red squirrel lives high up in the trees. In autumn it hides nuts in the ground so it has food all winter. It forgets where many of them are — and those forgotten nuts grow into new trees.
Field notes
How big?
About as long as a pencil, plus the tail
How heavy?
About the same as an apple
What does it eat?
Nuts, seeds and buds
When can you see it?
All year, best in the morning
How big is it?
Red squirrel is 20–25 cm long.
Look for this
Look for pine cones gnawed down to a thin stick. Under the tree you will find a little pile of scales.
How it sounds
A fast, angry chatter: chuck-chuck-chuck! Usually from high up on a branch.
Fun to know
- A squirrel can jump six metres from tree to tree.
- Its tail works like a steering wheel in the air.
- It can climb down a tree head first.
Questions kids ask about the red squirrel
Vad äter du?
Kottar, nötter och knoppar! Jag gömmer mat överallt inför vintern.
Var bor du?
I ett runt bo av kvistar högt upp i tallen. Det kallas ris.
Try it right here
Meet the red squirrel for real
Around Lake Sidsjön in Sundsvall, Sweden, the animals stand in their real places. Come within ten metres and the red squirrel comes alive in the phone and answers children's questions. The trail is in Swedish.