Research shows that our habit of feeding red squirrels may be changing their morphology. <\/p>
Despite the joy of seeing a red squirrel<\/a> up close, recent research suggests that feeding them may be harming the species.<\/p>\n The iconic rodent, once widespread in the UK, is now only found in a handful of woodlands. As breeding is limited within these isolated populations, changes to diet or habitat, or the introduction of disease can impact an entire population in just a few generations.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Analysis of over 250 skulls from different locations in the UK has shown significant changes to the jaws of red squirrels in Formby<\/a>, Liverpool. Here, the usual diet of hazelnuts and pine seeds has often been supplemented with biscuits, chips and peanuts from humans.<\/p>\n These treats require much less chewing, which researchers say could have caused the changes to the squirrels\u2019 masseters (cheek muscles) and made wild foods harder to consume.<\/p>\n Long term, the change in diet could affect trees that rely on these animals spreading seeds, along with the woodland species that depend on them.<\/p>\nMore on red squirrels:\u00a0<\/h4>\n
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