Find the answers in the text. |
Squirrels
A red squirrel Photo from Pixabay is in the public domain.
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A grey squirrel Photo by David Iliff. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
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There are red squirrels and grey squirrels in the United Kingdom.
For image credits see bottom of the page.
Red squirrel facts
Red squirrels used to live in all parts of the United Kingdom but now they mainly live in Scotland.
They like to eat seeds from spruce and pine trees. They also like nuts, berries and mushrooms. They may even eat parts of a tree! They can eat a tree's bark or the sap from inside a tree. Sap is a sticky liquid.
What food do they like to eat from spruce and pine trees?
What do they eat that comes from inside of a tree?
What do they eat that comes from inside of a tree?
Lots of people love them because they think they are cute! Our love for them grew when Beatrix Potter wrote her book 'Squirrel Nutkin' in 1903.
Photo from Pixabay is in the public domain.
Why do lots of people love red squirrels?
Who was Beatrix Potter?
Who was Beatrix Potter?
Grey squirrel facts
They mainly live in England and Wales.
They mainly live in England and Wales.
Photo by David Iliff. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
They like to eat acorns, flowers, nuts, fruits, roots and sticky sap from trees.
Lots of people love them because they are very playful animals. People like to see a bit of wildlife in towns.
Some people hate grey squirrels. They blame grey squirrels for making the number of red squirrels go down. Greys are better at getting food, and greys can carry a disease that kills red squirrels. Although greys carry the disease, they are immune. Being immune to a disease means you don't get sick from the disease. |
Photo from Pixabay is in the public domain.
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What do some people blame grey squirrels for?
What do grey squirrels have that can kill red squirrels?
What does immune mean?
What do grey squirrels have that can kill red squirrels?
What does immune mean?
Facts about greys and reds
Squirrels can use their tails to help them balance.
They can go down a tree head-first.
They can find hidden food even under a layer of snow.
Photo from Pixabay is in the public domain.
In autumn, squirrels store some food underground. They dig it up in winter so they have enough food to eat.
Squirrels build a nest (also called a drey) to protect them from the weather and look after their babies. The nest may be inside a tree or built out of twigs like a bird's nest. Sometimes they keep more than one nest at a time in case one gets stolen or blown away.
What does a squirrel do so it can survive the winter?
Where do squirrels take care of their babies?
Where do squirrels take care of their babies?
Image credits for UK map: By Source:File:British Isles all.svg by CnbrbFile:United Kingdom countries.svg by Rob984Derived work:Offnfopt - United Kingdom countries.svg,
Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.