I OFTEN write about sightings of the pretty grey squirrel and I almost always get letters of complaint pointing out that they are a nuisance and are ugly tree rats imported from North America in the 1870s.
I only half agree: They were brought in from America but they are not rats and they are very pretty.
They can, however, be a real nuisance. Grey squirrels eat young birds and eggs and also damage trees, especially in winter when the only food they can find is bark.
Look at grey squirrels in late summer and autumn when they stand on their hind legs to eat acorns and fruit. Then they are really attractive.
Squirrels also bury excess food, which they then dig up when the going gets tough. Contrary to what is written in many books, they do not hibernate and, therefore need to have supplies of food hidden away.
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