Difference Between Glis Glis and Red Squirrels

We are quite often asked how do we spot the difference between a glis glis and a red squirrel.

The glis glis has a squirrel like body, small ears, large feet and a bushy tail like a squirrel

the main difference between red squirrels and glis glis though is the size with the average glis glis measuring 14 – 19cm whilst the squirrel is a larger 23 – 30cm.

That being said, when you put a very large glis glis next to a very small squirrel there isn’t a lot of difference.

Also, when you have glis glis and a squirrel scuttling about in your loft, scratching away and chewing on you pipe insulation or electric cables at 3:00 in the morning one tends not to care whether it’s a squirrel or a glis glis, you just want to get rid of it.

The problem is, if you trap a red squirrel in your loft you can just let it go in your neighbours garden whilst they aren’t looking, where as if you trap glis glis in your loft it is against the law to release it back in to the wild.

Some would say that’s a good enough reason why not to know the difference between the 2 as you can then always assume it’s a young red squirrel you have trapped rather than a glis glis then let it go in your neighbours garden 🙂

Glis Glis or Squirrel

Glis glis

Join the conversation

  1. With regards to your comment about about releasing a squirrel, it is illegal to release or allow to escape a grey squirrel under the same legislation as Glis glis – Destructive imported animal act

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