Ashutosh Sahoo
Beyond the park bench
You see them every day, but these bushy-tailed neighbours lead lives full of surprising secrets. Let's uncover the hidden world of squirrels.
A family of giants & pygmies
There are over 280 species of squirrel! They range from the tiny African pygmy to the spectacular three-foot-long Indian giant squirrel.
The unstoppable teeth
A squirrel's four front teeth never stop growing. This allows them to endlessly gnaw on nuts, seeds, and even things you wouldn't expect!
The forgetful foresters
Squirrels bury thousands of nuts but forget where many are hidden. These lost treasures often grow into mighty new trees, making them accidental gardeners.
A tale of two squirrels
In the UK, introduced grey squirrels are pushing out the native reds. They outcompete them for food and carry a virus that is deadly only to the reds.
The secret language of tails
While they can chirp and squeak, a squirrel's most important communication tool is its tail. They use sharp twitches and flicks to signal danger and warn others.
Masters of deception
To fool would-be thieves, squirrels perform "deceptive caching." They dig and cover a fake hole, pretending to bury a nut that was never there.
Not a bird, not a plane...
Flying squirrels don't actually fly! They use skin flaps to glide gracefully, with some able to cover the length of a football field in a single leap.
The unlikely saboteurs
Believe it or not, squirrels are one of the biggest threats to power grids. Their constant gnawing has caused hundreds of power outages across the world.
Admire, don't approach
The best way to enjoy these clever creatures is from a distance. Feeding them disrupts their natural instincts and is best avoided for both their safety and yours.