Updated 15 October 2001, 14.26

			Fact File
	Red squirrels
		Can be anything from ginger to black
		Have larger ear tufts in the winter
		Often have bleached white tails in the summer
		Are protected by law
		Can make huge leaps during mating season

A network of 25 'safe squirrel' havens will be set up in north-east England to help the fluffy red ones breed and grown in numbers.

Competition

There used to be millions of red squirrels in the UK, but now there are only 160,000 left.

One of the reasons for this is competition from the 2.5m grey squirrels which find it easier to survive.

Their falling numbers are also blamed on disease and disappearing woodlands.

The wildlife trusts which are setting up the squirrel havens have chosen the areas specially to include the type of trees red squirrels like, and to make it easier for them to defend themselves.

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Web Links
	The Wildlife Trusts
	World Conservation Union - Squirrels
	Mammal Society - red squirrels
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