They are called grey squirrels, but many of them are so tinged with red at the fringes of their 20tail or even along the back that 20they are anything but drab. The other day there appeared a small squirrel which seemed almost blonde, so fair was it. Very small, very young probably, it fascinated the dog, which normally jumps and wants to get out to the bird feeding machines which hang in profusion around a north facing and a south facing window, when the usual adult squirrel does his trapezing and upside down hanging bit. The holders with the monkey nuts are so small of gauge that he practically has to suck each nut out in sections.
He finds it worthwhile, anyway. But this small newcomer seemed to be on a reconnaissance mission and soon moved off. Looking down on him (or her) three feet below, the glow from the tips of the tail hairs and from the crest of its back were quite markedly more reddish than on those of the adults which also come to the feast.
Tree seeds are a significant part of the squirrel's diet. Fairley tells us that reds go for conifer seeds substantially, while the greys favour the seeds of hard woods - acorns especially. Hazel nuts, hips and tree bark, as many a grower knows to his grief, are included in their diet. Fungi, too, says one squirrel lover. And if they eat tree bark they presumably enjoy good fat buds.
They seem to be very shy or at least very wary creatures, and yet twice an anthology from letters to the Field (the English Field, tells the story of a squirrel attacking a dog.
In 1970 Mr C. M. B. Sankey wrote this letter: "Sir, A few years ago while out shooting, a squirrel jumped from a tree on to the neck of my dog, where it took a firm hold with claws and teeth. There was much howling from the dog until I managed to detach the squirrel from the dog with the aid of my stick - 20not wishing to sacrifice my hands. There was no reason for this vicious attack, for the squirrel was out of danger in the top of a tree and was unnoticed by the dog until the attack."
In the same year a Mr K. Follett told the readers of the journal that his Irish Wolfhound had often been intrigued by a squirrels disappearance up a tree.
One day he met one face to face some 50 yards from a tree. The hound went 20cautiously forward, the squirrel darted at him and delivered two blows to the hounds nose. One drew blood. Then disappeared up a tree. The hound still chases squirrels, we are told. Whether red or grey is not stated. So squirrels can be tough. Restrain your dog.