Slovenia year 2007 stamps / Fauna – Squirrel Mint never hinged

Slovenia year 2007 stamps / Fauna – Squirrel Mint never hinged (**)

The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is the most common species of squirrel found in Slovenia. The Eurasian red squirrel is distributed throughout Slovenia, inhabiting forests, parks, and urban areas across the country. It is particularly common in deciduous and mixed forests but can also be found in coniferous forests. The Eurasian red squirrel is a small to medium-sized rodent with a reddish-brown fur coat on its upper body and a creamy-white underside. It has distinctive ear tufts, especially during the winter months. The tail is bushy and often held over the back. Red squirrels are arboreal animals, spending much of their time in trees. They are agile climbers and can leap between branches with ease. They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a diet of nuts, seeds, berries, and fungi. They are known for their habit of caching food for later use. While the Eurasian red squirrel is still relatively common in Slovenia, it faces threats such as habitat loss and competition with the introduced eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), which can outcompete and displace native red squirrels. Efforts are underway in Slovenia and across Europe to conserve populations of red squirrels and mitigate the impacts of invasive species.