Squirrels are among the most photographed Fuerteventura motives since they’re easy to spot, feel quite fearless around people, and appear cute in pics. But do we know about them?
The Barbary ground squirrels are not native to this island; they originate from northern Africa. A pair of them were brought to Fuerteventura in 1965 as pets. They presumably escaped (or one escaped, and the other was set free by the owner). Since the climate here is very similar to their native land, they eventually grew in population massively – and the rest is history. In just three to five years, they multiplied and were first seen in the area of Gran Tarajal. In the following years, they managed to colonize the entire island. As a result, they’re an invasive species on Fuerteventura. Although they have adapted quite well and do not conflict with the native animals, they damage the cultivation of Canarian native animals and plants, as well as the crops.
When a species is introduced to a new habitat, its biggest concern is not being aware of the new enemies. Luckily for Fuerte’s squirrels, their bigger natural enemy is a raven, but they do have them also in northern Africa, where they’re coming from, so they already know how to handle them. If you observe a squirrel family feeding or chilling, there will always be one or two of them on guard, not doing anything besides checking for ravens.
Not having too many natural enemies, they can feel quite safe, thus reproducing in regards to the food availability. Feeding them is not officially prohibited, but the authorities advise against it to prevent the population from growing even bigger. They can also carry diseases which is a good enough reason to keep a distance.
