Red Squirrels are the only squirrels native to Britain, but they are now becoming rare due to the introduction in the 19th century of the more aggressive grey squirrel .

Thanks to the Solent separating us from the mainland (and the grey squirrels), the Isle of Wight is one of the few places where you can see red squirrels, and so the red squirrel was an obvious mascot choice for the NatWest Island Games 2011.

You can find out more about the red squirrel on the Red Squirrel Trust website at www.theredsquirreltrust.co.uk and at the Wight Squirrel Project website at www.wightsquirrels.co.uk where you can also report any sightings.

If you're coming to visit the Isle of Wight for the NatWest Island Games, we hope you are fortunate to spot a red squirrel while you're here.

Squirrel Facts

Red squirrels can now only be found in Scotland, a few areas in the North of England and a few islands.

They live in a spherical twig nest lined with moss and grass called a drey.

They can live up to 5 or 6 years

They can swim

They can have two litters of young a year - called kittens - and usually give birth in March and July. They can have 1 to 6 kittens in a litter but usually have 3 or 4.

The average red squirrel is about 20-22cm long with the tail adding another 17-18cm. The average weight is about 300g (7½oz).

They have four fingers and five toes and can be right or left handed.

The colour varies from reddish brown to almost ginger and dark brown.

Only around 1 in 6 sees their first birthday.

Red squirrels and their dreys are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

They eat shoots, fungi, insects,buds leaves, flowers and fruit.

Squirrels do not hibernate.

Reds and greys cannot breed together.