squirrels

[razman]

have red and grey squirrels ever mated?

[Clanad]

You'll have to concede that "ever" is all inclusive, anent time spans and could exclude some possibilities. However, recently here in the U.S., studies have focused on the reduction of red squirrel population while the invasive grey squirrels have increased. Although results are not yet definitive, it does appear that the aggressiveness of the grey squirrel not only prohibits inter-breeding, but is contributory to the decline in red squirrel populations.

There has been speculation that color variations among grey or red squirrels may have been the results of interbreeding, but in each case it was shown to be natural gradiation in each's colors

[wildwood]

I am confused clanad, 'invasive grey squirrels'?
I always thought the grey squirrel was native to the northern part of America.

Funny things happen in the animal kingdom razman, especially when the animals are held in captivity. It has almost certainly happened at one stage somewhere in an unusual situation, but is unlikely to under normal circumstances. Interspecific breeding is unnatural.

[burnhal]

we must not confuse two species here- the North American Red Squirrel, whilst similar to the European Red squirrel, is larger and a different species

[Clanad]

My use of the term 'invasive' was used in reference to very specific geographic areas wildwood. The North American Grey Squirrel was first classified in the States of Carolina, hence it species Sciurus carolinensis. As you correctly point out, the species does inhabit several areas of the North American continent. However, there are/were areas where it had not been priviously reported, especially in the Pacific Northwest. (Here in our part of the western U.S., the squirrel is known euphemistically as the Pine Squirrel.) In those areas, the smaller North American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), although gregarious and somewhat aggressive towards the Gray, was found, over a period of time, to be supplanted by the Gray once the Grays had been introduced (by various means). The primary factor attributing to this phenomena appears to be the more numerous offspring of the Gray. The study surprised the researchers in that the Red's population dwindled with no signs of interbreeding in very similar species...
Thanks, for your observations!

[fredpuli47]

Clanad may not be aware of British concerns. The grey squirrel was introduced into Britain from America over a hundred years ago now. Since then it has almost completely supplanted the native red squirrel , so that the native is now found only in quite remote areas, mostly pine forest, which the greys have yet to reach and colonize. There have been attempts to reintroduce the red squirrel. The grey has been successful because it has a greater range to its diet , is aggressive and can drive out the red, and breeds rather faster than the red. For a while, years ago, farmers were paid a sum for every grey squirrel they killed, such was the speed with which its numbers increased and the amount of damage they caused.