Red squirrels are found in both coniferous and broad-leaved woodlands in Northern Europe and Siberia. They are an arboreal species, spending most of their time high up in the tree canopy.

The red squirrels diet mainly consists of tree seeds, including pine cones, hazelnuts, chestnuts and acorns, though they will also feed on fungi, berries, buds, and shoots.

During autumn, red squirrels work hard to gather and eat enough food to keep their energy up through the winter. They hide this food in caches around the woodland, and as they don’t hibernate, they rely on these hidden caches throughout the winter. They have excellent memories and often return to the same spots again and again.

Red squirrels breed in January, and a litter of up to 4 kits will be born blind and hairless in a nest, after a gestation of around 5 weeks. They will wean after 10 weeks, and begin exploring their environment by themselves, though they will usually remain close to their maternal drey until autumn. Red squirrels typically live between 3 and 6 years.

The red squirrel is protected in most of Europe, as it is listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention. Although it is listed as being of least concern on the IUCN Red List, they are protected in Ireland under the Irish Wildlife Act 1976 and the Irish Wildlife Amendment Act 2000.

In Ireland, the species has declined drastically in numbers following the introduction of the North American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in 1911. The grey squirrel outcompetes the red squirrel for food, and they have been observed stealing from the red squirrels' caches. The grey squirrels are also carriers of a squirrelpox virus, which while it doesn’t affect the greys, is fatal to red squirrels. This has led to a 20% decline in the numbers of red squirrels in Ireland.

There is good news though, as rising pine marten populations have led to a decline in grey squirrel numbers in recent years, allowing the red squirrel population to increase.

Squirrels belong to the Order Rodentia, and so their front teeth never stop growing which allows them to gnaw on nuts and seeds. To keep their teeth healthy, they need to chew almost continuously. Squirrels have been around for a very long time - they have possibly been present in Ireland since before the last Ice Age.

A study in 2014 found that there were approximately 35 red squirrels in and around the grounds of Fota Wildlife Park. They enjoy feeding on the yew trees in the park, and so they can often be seen just outside the Education, Conservation, and Research Centre, or in the wooded area near the seals. As there are no grey squirrels on Fota Island, red squirrels can thrive here, without competition from the larger greys.