Everyone who has enjoyed reading Beatrix Potter stories will be familiar with the mischievous character Squirrel Nutkin, who lost his tail after being far too cheeky to Old Brown, the owl.
Red squirrels feature strongly in European films, folklore, children's literature and art. So much so, that most people in New Zealand will recognise a squirrel without ever having seen a live one.
One of the animals on display in our new exhibition Teeth, Talons and Taxidermy is Sciurus vulgaris, a red squirrel. This cute little fellow can be found hopping throughout the forests of Europe and Northern Asia, although over the last century the density of the population has changed greatly, especially in Great Britain.
![Beatrix Potter character, Squirrel Nutkin, a red squirrel. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/COMZISAXWE7XQ5ZPOSFYUNODFU.jpg?auth=7bd3152de84b08dc8c4d05b8ca8f0823d45d9f7f4845281c5109705edb9ff309&width=16&height=20&quality=70&smart=true)
Red squirrels like to live in deciduous and coniferous forests, choosing trees naturally abundant in seeds or acorns and with natural hollows and cavities in which to build nests. Individuals may have several nests to provide a variety of bolt holes should they need to escape a predator and hide.