World · North America · 2 hrs ago
Red squirrel swims across Yorkshire pond to reach an acorn
A red squirrel swam across a pond in Hawes, North Yorkshire, to reach an acorn for its supper.
It first tried to reach the floating nut from the edge, then swam out and carried it back to land.
Wildlife enthusiast Alan Benson captured the scene while watching from a hide.
Red squirrels were once common in the UK, but their numbers fell after grey squirrels were introduced from North America.
Grey squirrels carry a virus that is deadly to red squirrels, although it does not harm them.
The UK red squirrel population is thought to be as low as 120,000, making the native species increasingly rare.
A red squirrel swam across a pond in Hawes, North Yorkshire, to retrieve an acorn.
The squirrel first tried to reach the acorn from the water’s edge, then entered the pond and swam towards it.
It carried the acorn back to land and ate it.
Wildlife enthusiast Alan Benson photographed the scene while watching from a hide.
The article says the UK red squirrel population is thought to be as low as 120,000.
- Who
- A red squirrel retrieved the acorn; wildlife enthusiast Alan Benson captured the scene.
- What
- The squirrel swam across a pond to reach an acorn and carried it back to land.
- When
- 16 October 2026.
- Where
- A pond in Hawes, North Yorkshire.
- Why
- The squirrel was seeking the acorn for food.
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- Location
- Hawes, North Yorkshire
- Food
- An acorn
- Photographer
- Alan Benson
- UK red squirrel population
- Thought to be as low as 120,000
What people are saying
I was sat in a hide all day watching and waiting for the reds to come in close to a pool. To see it so close as it retrieved a nut was fantastic.