Eichhörnchen Basel-Landschaft

Red squirrels inhabit coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests as well as parks and larger gardens with old tree stands. Coniferous and mixed forests are particularly favourable habitats, because the cones hanging high in the canopy must be shared with fewer food competitors. The animals feed mainly on tree seeds and fruits, supplemented by buds, fungi, insects and occasionally bird eggs. Squirrels do not hibernate; instead they cache food and use cold days for extended rest in their drey.

The drey, known in German as the Kobel, is a spherical nest of twigs, moss and leaves built high in branch forks or tree crowns and softly lined inside. A single squirrel usually maintains several dreys within its range and switches between them. The animals are strictly diurnal and are most often observed during the morning and afternoon hours.

For hunting practice the protection status is the decisive fact. The red squirrel is not listed in the Federal Hunting Act and therefore does not fall under hunting law. Under the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the Federal Species Protection Ordinance the species is specially protected year-round, and this protection extends to dreys and young animals. Hunters managing a ground should be aware of drey locations and take them into account during forestry or habitat works. Confusion with the invasive grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is not currently a concern in Germany, where this North American species is not yet established. In Great Britain, Ireland and parts of Italy, however, the grey squirrel has largely displaced the native red squirrel.