Squirrel

The Eurasian squirrel or red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) can be found in forests, gardens and parks in Latvia. This small rodent with tufts of hair in its ears has a reddish-brown fur in summer and greyish in winter. Most of its life is spent in trees, so the long, bushy tail is used as a rudder during jumps. The squirrel feeds mainly on tree seeds, buds, berries and insects. In autumn, they prepare food reserves for the winter under stumps, tree roots and hollows. Mushrooms are pinned to the branches and dried. The squirrel also gnaws the horns and bones of animals found in the forest, it can also catch small birds. Like other rodents, a squirrel’s incisors grow throughout its life.