Eurasian Red Squirrel - opening nuts in just a few seconds !
Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus-vulgaris) love conifer forests. On the European mainland and in the UK and Ireland, populations decline through the competition with the Gray Squirrels which were introduced from North America. Hunting for the fur of the red squirrel is a problem in Russia. Hunting, the loss of habitat and the strong competition with the Gray Squirrels will ultimately lead to the extinction in most parts of Europe of the Eurasian red squirrel. When food is plentifull, these cute scatter-hoarders will bury their nuts and seeds. With the power of their lower incisors they use a specialized technique for opening nuts. With practice they are able to open a nut in just a few seconds! "A male is a buck. A female is a doe. Babies are kits (male) or kittens (female), and collectively pups. Squirrels also nest; these nests are called dreys, which may also refer to a group of squirrels." (source)
Links
Animal diversity web on the Eurasian red squirrel
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