The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Wildlife => Topic started by: clydesdaleclopper on July 20, 2012, 08:55:13 pm

Title: strange squirrel
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on July 20, 2012, 08:55:13 pm

Coming home yesterday I saw a squirrel in one of our fields. It was a red squirrel BUT it's tail was a pale cream colour. I've never seen one like this before. Anyone know why it would look so strange - it certainly hasn't had the colour bleached out by all the sun  ::)

Title: Re: strange squirrel
Post by: Factotum on July 21, 2012, 07:56:49 am

According to the link, they can have 'blonde' tails - perhaps that's what you saw.

See:http://www.redsquirrelsofthehighlands.co.uk/blog/2011/6/9/have-you-seen-this-before (http://www.redsquirrelsofthehighlands.co.uk/blog/2011/6/9/have-you-seen-this-before)


And, the next link indicates that some get bleached ear tufts and tails and go blond in June.

See:http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/naturallyscottish/redsquirrel.pdf

Wonderful little creatures and amazing to watch.

Sue

Title: Re: strange squirrel
Post by: jaykay on July 21, 2012, 10:49:13 am

We have them here with tails ranging from black, through red, to blonde. Aren't they lovely  ;D