How Did the Eastern Grey Squirrel Come to Europe? 
The introduction of the eastern gray squirrel is well documented, and the extent of its spread is closely linked to the size of the population in which it first appeared. A deliberate introduction of grey squirrels to Italy in 1948 was attributed to a diplomat. After World War Two, Giuseppe Casimiro Simonis Vallario took a shine to grey squirrels in Washington DC. He returned with four squirrels and released them near his Turin villa.
The first reported introduction of grey squirrels in continental Europe was in 1948, and they were taken to Stupinigi, Italy, where there is still a growing population. In Ireland, however, Lord Longford was said to have introduced the American squirrels into his estate in 1911. The Grey Squirrel is considered to be an invasice species in Europe. It is larger and more aggressive than its European cousin, The Red Squirrel
Habitat
The gray squirrel is a threat to European trees. Its habitats are similar to those of the red squirrel, but it is an invasive species and can cause problems in its native environment. The red squirrel is considered the most common and widespread species in Europe, and grey squirrels are the primary culprit in red squirrel extinction. In recent years, however, the grey squirrel has been displaced from some parts of Europe by red squirrels.
The spreading of gray squirrels in the European continent is not a simple diffusion or wave process. Instead, invasions often radiate from multiple foci, including a single native range introduction and long-distance jumps of dispersal that are often human-mediated. The size of the foci, their spreading capacity, and the dates of founding vary significantly from one another. In small populations, stochastic events are more likely to occur.
Food preferences
The Eastern grey squirrel is a very adaptable animal, and its diet is highly diverse. In urban areas, this species often eats bird food, peanuts, and other leftovers from humans. Their diets contain high amounts of phosphate, which inhibits the absorption of calcium in the gut, a problem that can lead to metabolic bone disease and osteodystrophy. In contrast, they eat a variety of nuts, such as acorns, acorn berries, and tree bark.
The Eastern gray squirrel lives in mixed and deciduous forests, but they are also common in urban and suburban areas. Their preferred habitats are tall, dense, and sheltered trees with dense canopies. They use tree cavities and leaf nests for their breeding and feeding habits. Most litters are born in tree cavities or leaf nests, though some observers speculate that the reliance on tree cavities is higher in colder climates.
Genetic diversity
The coat color of the eastern grey squirrel varies geographically and regionally, with brown/gray fur on top and white fur below. This coloration is considered wild. The squirrel’s coat color is derived from its production of melanin, which is found in two varieties. The different mixtures of these two pigments produce different hues. The bands in the fur result from alternate use of these pigments.
In the study, the researchers employed an ADMIXTURE phylogenetic tree to estimate the proportions of learned ancestries in the remaining 99 squirrels. The lowest cross-validation error was observed at K = 3 and individuals were divided into the three geographic regions of Colorado (CO), Illinois (IL), and Wisconsin (WI). In the case of CO vs. WI, the pairwise genetic distance was 0.48 and 0.31, respectively, indicating that the individuals exhibited moderate to strong genetic drift.
Displacement of native red squirrels
The main cause of the displacement of native red squirrels by eastern grays is the competition for food resources, which results in reduced fitness levels in the red squirrel. Eastern greys are larger than red squirrels and have a higher metabolic rate, making them better suited to compete for a greater share of available food. Despite the benefits that Eastern greys offer to local ecosystems, their rapid expansion may be contributing to the extinction of the red squirrel.
How Many Vertebrae In A Grey Squirrel?
The spread of the gray squirrel has been studied by several researchers. Dr Lisa Signorile, an evolutionary biologist at the Zoological Society of London and Imperial College, compiled a genetic database from nearly 2,000 grey squirrels in the UK and Italy. Her research suggests that the two populations of grey squirrels are still genetically distinct and can be used to trace the expansion of new populations. She found that a number of different genetic markers can differentiate the two species and that some are similar but others are completely different.
How did the Eastern grey squirrel come to Europe?
It is believed that the Eastern grey squirrels were introduced to Europe in the late 1800s by American forces stationed in Italy.
Where did the Eastern grey squirrel come from?
The Eastern grey squirrel is native to the eastern United States and Canada.
What kind of squirrel is the Eastern grey squirrel?
The Eastern grey squirrel is a tree squirrel.
When did the Eastern grey squirrel come to Europe?
It is believed that the Eastern grey squirrels were introduced to Europe in the late 1800s.
How did the Eastern grey squirrel get to Europe?
It is believed that the Eastern grey squirrels were introduced to Europe by American forces stationed in Italy.
Where in Europe can the Eastern grey squirrel be found?
The Eastern grey squirrel can be found in France Italy and the United Kingdom.
What is the scientific name for the Eastern grey squirrel?
The scientific name for the Eastern grey squirrel is Sciurus carolinensis.
What does the Eastern grey squirrel eat?
The Eastern grey squirrel eats a variety of foods including nuts berries and fungi.
What is the lifespan of the Eastern grey squirrel?
The lifespan of the Eastern grey squirrel is typically around 10 years but can reach up to 20 years in captivity.
How big is the Eastern grey squirrel?
The Eastern grey squirrel is around 30 to 40 cm in length with a tail that is around 15 to 20 cm long.
What is the top speed of the Eastern grey squirrel?
The top speed of the Eastern grey squirrel is around 56 km/h.
How much does the Eastern grey squirrel weigh?
The Eastern grey squirrel typically weighs around 400 to 600 grams.
Are Eastern grey squirrels endangered?
No Eastern grey squirrels are not currently endangered.
What predators does the Eastern grey squirrel have?
The Eastern grey squirrel has a variety of predators including birds of prey coyotes and foxes.
What is the conservation status of the Eastern grey squirrel?
The conservation status of the Eastern grey squirrel is least concern.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
