Sciurus carolinensis, common name eastern gray squirrel or grey squirrel in not an indigenous species. They are native to North America & were first released in 1876 at Henbury Park Chershire, there were subsequent releases & they soon adapted to their new home. They carry the squirrel pox virus, which doesn’t seem to affect them but it certainly does do with our smaller slower reproducing native red squirrel.!

They are prolific breeders,they have two litters a year of between 3 – 7 kitts. They are mainly herbivorous, eating acorns, hazel nuts, berries, fungi, buds and shoots, and even bark. However, on rare occasions when plant food is very scarce they will eat insects, smaller rodents, bird eggs and nestlings.

As cute as these little critters look they can & do cause significant problems to “pick your own ” fruit farmers.