Red squirrel

The red squirrel or Eurasian squirrel is an arboreal, diurnal rodent. As its name suggests, it can be found over much of the Eurasian continent, but is nonetheless one of the key species in French coniferous and mixed forests. It weighs an average of 600 grams and measures 18 to 20 cm plus a tail of 16 to 20 cm. Its colour varies from reddish to brownish-black, but its belly is always white. It spends much of its life stocking up on food, seeds or acorns, in preparation for winter. In fact, it does not hibernate and only slows down during this period. Squirrels lead solitary lives and only meet other squirrels when they are breeding. The threat of the grey squirrel, which was imported from North America, is better adapted to deciduous forests and carries a deadly virus for its cousin, is worsening in Europe and could soon spread to the Alps.