Other than that, there really is no difference between them, only their color. To make things worse, Grey squirrels are carriers of the parapoxvirus (Squirrel Pox). The red squirrel is rusty brown on its back with a white or gray belly. But before we get there, let’s first look at some of the basic characteristics of the two squirrels … One of the most obvious distinguishing factors is size. They're two distinct squirrel species. Red and Grey squirrels directly compete for food and nesting sites. The grey squirrel was introduced into the UK about 130 years ago. Grey squirrels can often have very red fur and vice versa, as you can see in the photographs below. Although the two species have some similarities, they have a range of differences, too. Mammals. The red squirrel is 23-30 long and has a mass of 400 to 600g. Reds have small ear tufts that develop into large tufts in winter. Red squirrels are recognisable by their red to russet fur, ear tufts and long, fluffy tails. B ritain has two types of squirrel, but only one of them – the red squirrel – is actually native to the country. Red squirrels weigh between 270-360g and with a head and body length of 19-23cm. There are two red squirrel species in the northern hemisphere. The squirrels that best compete are the ones that survive. Grey squirrels, as they're known in the UK, are more commonly known as eastern gray squirrels in North America. The grey squirrel was introduced into the UK about 130 years ago. It gets a little tricky because the North American Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is usually grey but can also be red, or cream, black, or brown. The regulations that govern take of tree squirrels can be found in section 311. Eurasian red squirrels are large with a red to grey grizzled coat and white belly, or are melanistic (black). One key way to tell the difference between a Eurasian Red Squirrel and a North American Eastern Grey Squirrel is that the Eurasia Red Squirrel has the pointy ear tufts. By reading this article you will know which of the two squirrels would carry the day in case of a fight. Grey squirrel is much similar to the red squirrel except that it is a bit bigger than the red squirrel. Whereas red and grey squirrels are two distinct species, Sciurus vulgaris and Sciurus caroliniensis, black squirrels are variants of the grey squirrel. There are two red squirrel species in the northern hemisphere. Male squirrels of any kind do not participate in the rearing process. Eurasian Red Squirrels live in Europe and Asia, and Grey Squirrels live in the USA. The fox squirrel, often incorrectly referred to as the red squirrel by residents of California, is visually distinguishable from the native western gray squirrel; the western gray squirrel is slightly larger, has silver-gray fur with creamy white underparts, and has a notably bushier tail. Eurasian Red Squirrels live in Europe and Asia, and Grey Squirrels live in the USA. The red squirrel is rusty brown on its back with a white or gray belly. In the Code, reference to “gray squirrels” means both eastern and western gray squirrels. Hi Andy, my curiosity is getting the better of me. There are now some 2.5 million grey squirrels in the UK, compared to 160,000 native red squirrels. The gray squirrel is gray (or “grey” if you prefer) on its back, also with a white belly and throat. There are now some 2.5 million grey squirrels in the UK, compared to 160,000 native red squirrels. An adult squirrel observed interacting with a litter is likely to be the mother of the litter. The fox squirrel, often incorrectly referred to as the red squirrel by residents of California, is visually distinguishable from the native western gray squirrel; the western gray squirrel is slightly larger, has silver-gray fur with creamy white underparts, and has a notably bushier tail. Other than that, there really is no difference between them, only their color. Males can be observed nesting together during winter months. It is uncommon for some female tree squirrels, such as fox squirrels, to nest together. Eurasian red squirrels are large with a red to grey grizzled coat and white belly, or are melanistic (black). Douglas and American Red squirrels are collectively called ‘Pine’ Squirrels. I wish they all got along. Red squirrels are particularly susceptible to disease, including a lethal pox virus. Join us in reading this article to know difference between a red squirrel vs grey squirrel. The Difference Between Red and Grey Squirrels November 18, 2018 by Bill Dowd Successful squirrel identification and removal techniques are an important part of a wildlife control experts job. The red squirrel is … North American red squirrels are small, and have a red-brown back, a black side stripe, and white belly. I decided to google "red grey sqirrels", as I was wondering just what the main differences in red and grey …