The story of Britain's squirrels is one of both success and failure. Once populating the entire British Isles, the number of native red squirrels has plummeted so that it is now essentially restricted to Scotland and northern England with small isolated populations scattered elsewhere. The grey squirrel was introduced into Britain little over a century ago in the late 19th century from America.  Suited to the climate and habitat, it has become widespread. Red squirrels no longer exist in London, whilst grey squirrels are our most commonly seen wild mammal.

Appearance and behaviour  Woodland is the best habitat for squirrels. It provides an abundance of food and shelter. Home for a squirrel is either a nest, called a drey, hidden in the high branches or a den in a hollow tree. These provide protection from the weather and a place to rear their young. Grey squirrels can adapt to the open and are commonly found in urban parks and gardens, collecting much of their food from the ground. With sharp all-round vision and a good sense of smell, their senses are geared towards finding food and avoiding tree climbing accidents. Squirrels are opportunist feeders. Their diet varies depending on the season and what is available. They eat catkins, flowers, rosehips, fungi, shoots, bulbs, bark and may even rob nests in spring, taking both eggs and young birds. However their most important natural food is tree seeds. Squirrels eat them as they ripen or store them for hard times, burying them just below the surface of the soil in numerous small caches.

Wild facts  Whiskers on a squirrel’s head, feet and tail provide early warnings for bumping into things - an advantage on a windy evening in the tree tops. Their bushy tails help them balance and are used to signal their mood as well as keeping them warm when they are asleep. They have four fingers and five toes and can be right or left handed!

Living with squirrels  Grey squirrels may be unwanted visitors at bird tables and eat your garden bulbs. Grey squirrels may also invade your house and are a particular nuisance in lofts where they can chew electric cables. To avoid this, ensure that any gaps under your eaves are too small for squirrels to enter.

Conservation issues  While much work is put into protecting red squirrel populations from the spread of grey squirrels in other parts of the country, this is not an issue anywhere in London.  The survival of red squirrels is not solely dependent on the spread of grey squirrels. Like many species they are directly threatened by habitat destruction or fragmentation, and by the erosion of the quality of their woodland homes due to poor management. For this to continue as "a tale of two squirrels", all these issues need to be addressed through national research and coordinated action - a programme of activity in which our partner Wildlife Trusts are taking a key role.

In your patch  Find out if your area is popular with squirrels with the fantastic WIMBY tool, run by GiGL – Greenspace Information for Greater London.

Spotted  Do you see lots of squirrels in your area? Let us know!  Register with GiGL and tell us about the species you’ve spotted in the capital.