Two russet-furred, tufty-eared red squirrel kittens are among Norfolk’s newest natives.
Kelling Heath Holiday Park has welcomed a rare autumn litter of the fluffy-tailed, nut-chomping rodents.
David Martin, countryside manager at the north Norfolk site, said: “Welcoming a litter as late as autumn is an incredibly rare thing and took the team by surprise.
“We’re overjoyed at such wonderful news and we’re happy to see the little ones out and about in their enclosure already.”
Kelling Heath has now had three litters this year, totalling nine kittens.
The new arrivals will spend at least six months at the park learning everything they need to survive in the wild before joining other conservation and rewilding programmes.
The kittens will learn how to climb trees, jump, and forage for pinecones while independently exploring their protected enclosure.
Kelling Heath was one of the last places in Norfolk that red squirrels called home before they disappeared from the region more than 40 years ago due to the introduction of the non-native American grey squirrel.
Mr Martin said: “Now, the red squirrel population is slowly increasing thanks to both regional and nationwide conservation efforts.
“We’re very proud to support the biodiversity of the region and the legacy of the red squirrel through our ongoing conservation efforts.
“We’re thrilled to see the numbers of red squirrels increasing across the nation and are proud of the part Kelling Heath’s efforts play in that for this magnificent native species.”
Fast facts:
Where can I see red squirrels in the UK?
As well as at Kelling Heath and Pensthorpe in Norfolk, red squirrels can only be found on the Isle of Wight, in the north-west of England and Scotland, on Anglesea in Wales in parts of Northern Ireland.
What do red squirrels eat?
Mostly seeds and nuts, with pine seeds a particular favourite.
How do red squirrels mate?
Males first have to follow females in prolonged chases through the trees. Kittens are born in nests known as dreys.
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