Conservation Status: Introduced - common and increasing
Hertfordshire: Under recorded
Protection: No legal protection in Britain. Squirrels are regarded as a pest and are controlled in Britain under regulations of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). It is illegal to release or keep grey squirrels in captivity without a licence from MAFF.
General Information:Commonly found in broad-leaved woodland, mixed and conifer woodland; also in parkland and gardens of suburban and urban areas. Squirrels feed mainly on seeds and plant material; their habit of stripping the bark of trees can cause considerable economic damage. Drey counts are often used as a crude index of population size and habitat use. Black Squirrels are a rare version of the Grey Squirrel. They are found in Hertfordshire, predominantly around the Letchworth area. Black squirrels are easily recognised by their attractive shiny jet-black coat and scraggier tail.
Threats: Very few. Road casualties occur particularly in the autumn. Squirrel control tends to have only a short-term effect on population levels.
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