This attractive mammal has a chestnut upper body, with buff to cream underside, noticeable ear tufts and the famous fluffy tail. Red squirrels do not hibernate and lay down stores of food to see them through periods when fresh food is not available. They have quite a varied diet which includes seeds, buds, flowers, leaves and fruit. They are known to take insects, fungi and birds' eggs. It is a breeding resident on Arran, where there are no grey squirrels that could carry the squirrel parapoxvirus that is fatal to the red squirrel. They nest in a drey built in the hollow of a tree or maybe even use an old woodpecker nest.
3cm x 7cm