The red squirrel is back

THE RED squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a common sight on the Costa Blanca, especially near pine forests.

Forty years ago there were hardly any red squirrels to be seen in Alicante province or in whole of the Valencia region.

So steps were taken to reintroduce it into coastal mountain areas, with the idea that they could help reforest areas with pines as their favourite food includes pine nuts, which they bury to eat later on, and frequently forget where they have stowed them away, and so seeds would start to sprout.

That was the theory behind the massive release of squirrels and they certainly repopulated the area very quickly and now can be seen everywhere.

The red squirrel can grow up to 24 centimetres in length, it has characteristic reddish brown coat, with lighter shades on its belly. In the winter it has tufts of hair on its ears, which fall during the summer. They have a long fluffy tail that can measure up to 24 cms.

Their natural habitat in the region is pine forests and they can be found from sea level up to very high areas.

They are a diurnal species with great climbing ability and agility and are usually seen jumping from one pine tree to another or running along telephone wires and up posts.

They feed mainly on fruits, seeds (mainly pine nuts and acorns), fungi, as well as being partial to larvae, insects, snails and even fledglings.

In cold climates they tend to hibernate. On the Mediterranean they are active all year round, although they snooze in summer during the hottest hours.

They nest in treetops, where they make voluminous, spherical nests. Males are polygamous with adult females having two litters a year.

Squirrels can have up to seven different nests in their territory, often covering up to 12 hectares. The nests are used by males and females alike, and not only for breeding.

They spend the night and also used the nest for having a siesta when it is very hot. They spread them all over the territory so that they always have one available.