Small game - mammals

Common Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

The common squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of small omnivorous rodent of the Sciuridae family, distributed in the forest belt of Eurasia. The length of the body with the head is 145 - 265 mm, and the tail - 145 - 189 mm. It weighs 250 – 340 g. The long tail helps the squirrel keep its balance as it jumps from branch to branch. The common squirrel has sharp and curved claws that help it climb trees. The color changes depending on the season and place. The fur in summer is thinner and lighter, and in winter it is thicker and darker. However, the belly fur always remains white. In Bulgaria, the squirrels in Strandzha are light brown, and those from the higher parts of Rila are darker to red-brown. The space-like tufts at the tips of the ears appear only in winter.