RECORD LITTER SIZE IN THE EURASIAN RED SQUIRREL (SCIURUS VULGARIS)

In the literature, litter size in red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris ranges between 1-6 offspring. Here we report a record litter size, in Europe, of 7 young (6 males, 1 female), marked in the nest when 10-14 days old, in a high-elevation mountain pine habitat, Lom- bardy Alps (Northern Italy). We discuss implications of extreme winter conditions for life- history strategies and possible trade-offs between high reproductive investment and short life-span.