We have just been out for a drive into Derbyshire and saw the second Red squirrel I have seen this week (the first was within two miles of where i live), is this a sign that they are coming back? I have seen loads of grey squirrels and also weasels and stoats and these were defiantly red squirrels complete with bushy tails. Anyone else seen any recently?:)

Thats pretty amazing if it is so! The Red Squirrel has been bullied out northwards as the Grey advanced and I didn't even think it had managed to survive once the Grey moved in.

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ooo whereabouts is this - I'd love to see a local population of Red Squirrels!

We saw a couple of red squirrels in the Lake District in early June.

Are you certain it wasn't grey squirrels you were seeing? They're often red in colour. It's an easy mistake to make.
What details made you think they were red squirrels? It's not that I don't believe you, but it would be great to be able to validate a sighting.

Are you certain it wasn't grey squirrels you were seeing? They're often red in colour. It's an easy mistake to make.
What details made you think they were red squirrels? It's not that I don't believe you, but it would be great to be able to validate a sighting.
Dark reddish brown, smaller than a grey with the magnificent bushy tail. I havn't seen one for years but I am sure that's what they were my camera was in the boot but the one today was gone before I could stop.

yes we all should drive the gay squirrel out viva la red squirrel :D

What were their ears like? And their bellies? Lol, sorry, just checking. And you said you saw some nearer home...is that Sheffield?
If you manage to get some photo or video ID, please contact Sheffield Wildlife Trust on 2634335 and let them know.

I have a few gay squirlls livin in my back garden, their a bloody crazey animals

I have a few gay squirlls livin in my back garden, their a bloody crazey animals

Please enlighten me. Why is a grey squirrel called gay?

how did these gay squirrels get here in the first place there killing off our red ones to near extinction

Please enlighten me. Why is a grey squirrel called gay?
Probably it's a happy squirrel.:cool:

yes we all should drive the gay squirrel out viva la red squirrel :D

Homophobia towards squirrels......:suspect:

Jim

how did these gay squirrels get here in the first place there killing off our red ones to near extinction

Imported from America as a delightful rarity, so that rich people could flaunt how rich they were because they could afford to import animals from thousands of miles away.

We have Canada geese infesting our lakes for the same reason.

I know that grey squirrels are classed by some as vermin. Personally, I think they are beautiful little creatures. I don't know their track record for garden destruction etc. but they are very pleasing to my eye. I have not seen a red squirrel for years and years, but they are lovely too.

Imported from America as a delightful rarity, so that rich people could flaunt how rich they were because they could afford to import animals from thousands of miles away.

We have Canada geese infesting our lakes for the same reason.

they say they taste ok ( both before you ask ):D

been spotted at carr forge pond near hackenthorpe

We have just been out for a drive into Derbyshire and saw the second Red squirrel I have seen this week (the first was within two miles of where i live), is this a sign that they are coming back? I have seen loads of grey squirrels and also weasels and stoats and these were defiantly red squirrels complete with bushy tails. Anyone else seen any recently?:)

As far as I knew there is no population of red squirrels in Derbyshire. Are you sure you didn’t see a grey squirrel instead? They can look slightly red at times.

These are the populations at present:

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/images/UKRSG-map.gif

I know that grey squirrels are classed by some as vermin. Personally, I think they are beautiful little creatures. I don't know their track record for garden destruction etc. but they are very pleasing to my eye. I have not seen a red squirrel for years and years, but they are lovely too.

In fact grey squirrels are officially classed as vermin. Quite apart from the fact that they have almost totally usurped the place of our native red squirrel, they do considerable damage to trees and prey on the eggs and nestlings of many of our native songbirds.

They may be cute but are a pest and there are officially sanctioned culling programmes under way in some parts of England where they're actually destroying the woodland they live in.

Grey squirrels are rightly called "tree rats". I'm still waiting to see my first red squirrel, and it's been a long wait! ISTR that there was supposed to be a few reds in the woods near Derwent Dam, but that was some years ago, and I never managed to see even one.

As far as I knew there is no population of red squirrels in Derbyshire. Are you sure you didn’t see a grey squirrel instead? They can look slightly red at times.

These are the populations at present:

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/images/UKRSG-map.gif
True that's why i did the original post. I haven't seen a red since the 1960's and as sure as i can be that it's what I saw twice in a week.

In fact grey squirrels are officially classed as vermin. Quite apart from the fact that they have almost totally usurped the place of our native red squirrel, they do considerable damage to trees and prey on the eggs and nestlings of many of our native songbirds.

They may be cute but are a pest and there are officially sanctioned culling programmes under way in some parts of England where they're actually destroying the woodland they live in.And the vermn classification is most fortunate when you consder how tasty they are - my freezer must contain a least 30 sets of squirrel legs.

Grey squirrels are rightly called "tree rats". I'm still waiting to see my first red squirrel, and it's been a long wait! ISTR that there was supposed to be a few reds in the woods near Derwent Dam, but that was some years ago, and I never managed to see even one.

I've seen plenty in The Lakes but none around here.

The people I visited in Cumbria have red squirrels nicking the birds nuts, but I'd love to have a red one in my garden - and the birds would just have to share.

I used to live in Merseyside and went up to see the red squirrels in Formby.

You could throw nuts for them and they'd come within a few feet.

The people I visited in Cumbria have red squirrels nicking the birds nuts, but I'd love to have a red one in my garden - and the birds would just have to share.

And that's another point against the greys...they won't share anything. Unless you protect food you put out for the birds the greys will scoff the lot :mad:

they say they taste ok ( both before you ask ):D

I found Grey Squirrel meat to be very greasy. Getting back on topic, the last Red Squirrel that I saw was about 2 years ago in Cumbria.