Red squirrels are one of Scotland’s most loved animals, and they are our only native squirrel species. Their survival here is very much under threat from the presence of the invasive grey squirrel, which was introduced to the UK from North America. This topic can often be a bit confusing for children, so this craft activity is a great way for kids to start to learn about this iconic mammal, and have some fun at the same time.

Red squirrels were once found across the whole of the UK, but in recent decades their numbers have fallen drastically. In Scotland, there are around 160,000 red squirrels (that is 75% of the UK’s population), which has improved over recent years thanks to conservation efforts!

The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project aims to help red squirrels by stopping the spread of greys. For more red squirrel activities and info, head over to the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project website.

Their favourite foods are nuts and seeds, particularly the kernels from pinecones, and because of this they like to live in conifer forests containing trees such as pine, larch and spruce. They will also eat other woodland wildlife including fungi, plants and birds’ eggs. Scotland has lots of conifer woodland which is one reason why we still have lots of red squirrels.

Fun Fact! Red squirrels can be left or right handed – you can tell by how they’ve nibbled their food!

Make your very own red squirrel (like ours here!) with our simple to follow instructions below.

What you will need:

• Two cardboard tubes of the same size – such as toilet roll tubes, or kitchen roll tubes cut to size.
• Scissors
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Water
• A black pen or crayon

How to make your red squirrel:

For step-by-step images, download the resource sheet below.

1. Start by cutting out a wavy tail shape in one of the tubes, remembering to leave a ring of cardboard at the base.
2. Fold in the top of the second cardboard tube, to make the ears.
3. Cut two slits at the bottom of the second cardboard tube and slot the second tube onto the base of the first (the one with the wavy tail).
4. Paint the body in red paint and the tail in orange.
5. Wait for the paint to dry and use white paint for the eyes. If your paint is not thick enough for this, use circles of white paper.
6. Using a black pen or crayon, add the features to your squirrel’s body.
7. Your squirrel is ready!
8. To expand the activity for older children, you could also make a grey squirrel and use the models to explain the conservation issue for the red squirrel.

Share your red squirrels using #DiscoverLearnPlay

This activity was developed as part of the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project.