Beautiful News: Squirrels
We know squirrels as our fluffy neighbours, but there’s so much more to these creatures. There are over 270 species, each with their own quirks and colourings. One of the most impressive is the red squirrel. Like their relatives, they’re extreme hoarders. In summer, they forage for nuts, seeds, and cones, stashing them away until winter. Any uneaten or forgotten meals sprout in spring, making these rodents the green thumbs of the forest. But today red squirrels face an unlikely threat – their own kind. Grey squirrels brought to Europe from America carry squirrelpox, a disease that grey squirrels are immune to, yet is fatal to red squirrels. Discover how conservationists are helping red squirrels get back on their feet. Footage by Niki Colemont was used in the creation of this film.