However, in late spring and summer when the primary food source is scarce the diet is supplement with plant shoot and bulbs, insects and berries. These form a major component of the diet in autumn and winter when they are plentiful. The diet of the red squirrel consists primarily of seeds and nuts from trees and plants. These plantations are now essentially the last refuge for the red squirrel-only populations and are therefore the target area for the conservation objectives and efforts of the FRSG. Although there are many suitable broadleaved woodlands within Fermanagh, red squirrels are becoming increasingly restricted to coniferous plantations due to competition from the grey squirrel. The preferred habitat of the red squirrel is mixed broadleaved woodlands where there is high species diversity and where food is plentiful. Red squirrels spend the majority of their lives in trees and rely on the fruit of trees and plants as their primary source of food, e.g. Tuffs are often absent during these summer months and are replaced in the late summer and autumn. Red squirrels moult twice a year although only shed their characteristic ear tuffs once a year. Fur colour can vary quite a bit between animals from a dark brown to a light chestnut on the back and from white to cream on the throat and chest. The male and female are approximately the same size. Red squirrels are well adapted to living in woodland habitats having large eyes and long hind limbs adapted for leaping. Red squirrels are one of the 81 species of tree squirrels found across the world.
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