Six floors up, the little squirrel wedges unhindered around on the smooth house facade on Södermalm in Stockholm's inner city.
- It jumps around and looks for food on balconies, says Mats Nordin, biologist at the Stockholm County Administrative Board.
It is now during the late summer that the squirrel collects and hides food for the winter. Every third squirrel in Sweden is infected with parasites that can also affect humans and cause diarrhea, according to new research from the Swedish Veterinary Institute. But the risk of a squirrel slipping in through an open window is small, says Mats Nordin.
- Even though some squirrels are almost tame, they avoid getting in because it is difficult to find out and it is scary.
The squirrel has extra long claws on the front and back paws to get a good grip.
- The squirrel is very skilled at climbing vertical objects, but when it runs on a smooth wall, it is exposed and risks becoming an easy prey for pigeon hawks, says Mats Nordin.