Newsletter #186 In the Shadow of Its Tail – The Red Squirrel

Newsletter about nature and science

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M.P.Gerkema

Sep 16, 2025

In the Shadow of Its Tail – The Red Squirrel

The Greeks could hardly have chosen a more fitting name for this enchanting rodent. A true tree-dweller, these bushy-tailed creatures build their nests five to six meters high. They are picky about their surroundings: oaks must be at least forty years old, beeches even sixty, before a squirrel will accept them as a home. They prefer vast coniferous forests, or at least mixed woods without too many deciduous trees. Industrious as they are, they collect nuts, acorns, and pinecones to store for winter. Sometimes they forget a food cache, and in doing so, they help trees spread.

A real threat comes from the larger, stronger gray squirrel. This American intruder was introduced into England in the 19th century and has since made its way into other parts of Europe, including our own. The gray squirrel is not just a competitor for food: it can carry viruses that are harmless to itself but deadly to the native red squirrel. In English woodlands, the gray has already gained the upper hand. In the Netherlands, several exotic squirrel species were once kept as pets, but that is now forbidden, and the red squirrel is strictly protected. Occasionally, one may still come across an Asian red-bellied squirrel (our native red has a white belly).

The Dutch red squirrel population has always fluctuated. Besides problems with viruses and the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma, food availability plays a big role: a poor autumn harvest often means high mortality the following winter. Natural predators are plentiful—polecats and foxes on the ground, pine martens and goshawks in the trees. Traffic also takes a heavy toll, and with the continued fragmentation of the landscape, the Dutch squirrel population has dropped by a third in recent years.

Still, the red squirrel has a vast range. With the exception of southern Spain and a few Mediterranean islands, it can be found across Europe and deep into northeastern Asia, north of the Himalayas. In the Netherlands, it is absent only in parts of Zeeland, the north of North Holland and Groningen, and the west of Friesland. The sight of a squirrel always brings joy—especially when one is lucky enough to watch it eat, holding its food proudly between its tiny forepaws, tail elegantly balancing, and those tufted ears perked upright. Moments like that can make a whole day.

Five Tips for Spotting Squirrels

Check waarneming.nl to see if squirrels have been spotted in your area—and add your own observations.
Squirrels are active during the day, especially after dawn and before dusk. They forage on the ground, often retrieving hidden food stores. At the first sign of danger, they can spiral up a tree in seconds or leap from tree to tree, balancing with their tails.
In winter, their spherical nests (30–50 cm across) are easy to spot in deciduous trees. Look at least five meters up in the canopy.
Feeding remains are another good clue: gnawed pinecones (especially the scattered scales), cracked hazelnuts, and nibbled acorns or beechnuts.
And if you’re unlucky and don’t spot one? The internet is full of wonderful videos to enjoy instead.

Menno en Erwin about Nature and Science

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