Grey Squirrel

Name: Grey Squirrel

Scientific name: Sciurus carolinensis

Category: Mammals

Nature Stars: 20

What are nature stars?

About: One of our most familiar mammals. About 30cm long, with a fluffy tail of about 20cm. Grey Squirrels can be found in woods, gardens and parks. They can become very tame in town parks, and are frequent visitors (sometimes becoming pests!) to gardens with bird tables. Tracks and signs: squirrels eat hazelnuts by cracking the shell in half. You may also find pine cones that have been nibbled, leaving them looking like an apple core. Squirrels make a rough nest (called a 'drey') of twigs, leaves and strips of bark and leaves in the fork of a branch high in the tree canopy.

How to identify: Told from the Red Squirrel by its larger size, grey fur and ears without tufts.

Where: England and Wales, absent from much of Scotland

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 10
• Cute factor: 70
• Traveller: 30

Fantastic fact: The Grey Squirrel was introduced from North America as long ago as 1876.

Photograph credit: Robin Redfern