Eurasian red squirrels have a body length of 7.5 to 9 inches long, not including their tail that’s 6-8 inches, and weigh 8-12 ounces with males and females being the same size.

Contrary to their name, Eurasian red squirrels range from red to black depending on their location; however, the underside is always white and they all have ear tufts.

Like other squirrels, Eurasian red squirrels are skilled climbers. They have curved claws to help them scale up and down thick trees, slim branches, and houses. The Eurasian red squirrel can jump over 6 feet between trees with the aid of its strong legs and long tail to balance and steer while in the air!

The Eurasian red squirrel, also called the red squirrel, can be found throughout Eurasia; however, populations have drastically decreased in Ireland, Great Britain, and Italy after humans introduced the eastern grey squirrel to the area. Their ideal habitat are places that provide a year-round source of food such as coniferous woods and Scots and Siberian pines.

Eurasian red squirrels typically eat seeds, nuts, berries, fungi, and young shoots. Very rarely, they will become opportunistic omnivores and eat eggs or chicks. These squirrels are active during the morning and early evening when they are foraging, feeding, or hiding their food in caches. Even though the red squirrel can remember where it buried its nuts more often than the grey squirrel, many caches still go missing.

The mating season for the Eurasian red squirrel takes place in either February and March or June and July. Females that are heavy deliver more babies so if food is scarce, she may wait to breed.

Females will remain pregnant a little over a month before giving birth to usually 3 blind and deaf kits, which the mother cares for. Even though the young can eat solids after a month and venture away, they still suckle from their mom for 8-10 weeks.

Typically their daily activities take place during the early morning and late evening. In the summer they rest during the day to avoid the heat preferring to spend most of their time in the trees. Thanks to their double-jointed ankles they are able to move freely in the trees.

Eurasian red squirrels do not hibernate and bury their food throughout the year to be able to survive through the winter.