Face to face with a squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) by Rini Kools

The squirrel is 20 to 28 centimetres long and weighs 250 to 350 grams. Its bushy, tufted tail is 15 to 20 centimetres long. It is an omnivore and belongs to the rodent family.
Contrary to what the name suggests, the coat colour can vary from black to yellowish, with all sorts of shades of red and brown in between. Melanism does occur, but the extent to which individuals are melanistic varies by region. Usually, the animals are reddish-brown with a white underside, becoming a greyer, darker brown in winter. The colour also becomes greyer as the squirrel gets older. The tufts on its ears are particularly noticeable in winter. A squirrel can raise the hairs on its bushy tail.
With its long, curved claws, it can easily climb trees and leap from branch to branch. When leaping, it spreads its limbs, with the loose skin on its flanks helping it to stay airborne. The bushy tail acts as a rudder, enabling it to steer its jump. It is also a good swimmer. The long tail, its elegant manner of movement and the tufts on its ears give it a high ‘cuddle factor’.
The squirrel feeds on plant matter such as nuts and seeds from spruce and pine trees. It also eats buds, mushrooms, pieces of tree bark, and occasionally animal matter.
The squirrel is diurnal and usually makes an appearance shortly after sunrise. It is mainly active after sunrise and just before sunset.