Grey Squirrel Facts & Habitat

Grey squirrels are a naturalised invasive species that create a lot of hype, both for and against them. However, they are a resourceful species that has colonised most of the UK, including urban areas and even city centres.
Grey Squirrel sitting in a tree
Grey squirrels are a naturalised invasive species that create a lot of hype, both for and against them. However, they are a resourceful species that has colonised most of the UK, including urban areas and even city centres.

Grey Squirrel Identification: What do grey squirrels look like?

Length: 25-30cm

Fur is mostly grey but paler on the underside. Older individuals can show some red on their flanks. Tail is very bushy but there are no ear tufts, unlike the red squirrel. Grey squirrels spend more time on the ground than red squirrels, particularly in autumn and winter when they are to be seen burying nuts and acorns. There are local populations of a black variation of the grey squirrel in some parts of the country. Red and grey squirrels are rarely seen in the same areas with grey squirrels being present in much of the country, whereas red squirrels are restricted to a few islands and to the north of England and in Scotland.

Grey squirrel illustration for identification

Grey squirrel call, what do they sounds do they make?

Scolding chattering call is accompanied by vigorous tail flicking.

When do grey squirrels breed and reproduce?

Grey squirrels build large leafy dreys with an outer structure of twigs, high in trees mainly in a fork of the main trunk. Litters produced 1 or 2 a year in April to September with between 3-5 live young per brood.

Where do grey squirrels live and what is their natural habitat?

Grey squirrels live in mixed woodland, parks and hedgerows. They are common in towns and gardens.

What do grey squirrels eat?

Grey squirrels feed on a wide variety of nuts, seeds, berries, bark and sap. They are also opportunist robbers of birds eggs and young. We have a great range of the best nuts for squirrels and squirrel food mixes to help attract them to your garden. You may also find some cheeky squirrels climbing up your bird feeders for extra food, if this is the case, you can use a squirrel baffle for bird feeders to keep your feeders for birds only! Or, try using a squirrel proof feeder such as the squirrel buster feeder.

Where to feed grey squirrels

Ground Feed – Scatter food in the open

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