Chipmunks in Fuerteventura
A tiny army that has conquered the island.
On the arid canvas of Fuerteventura, where the sun paints the landscape with shades of sand and sea, some little dancers have decided to leave their mark. The squirrels, known on the island as the Moorish squirrel or Barbarian Squirrel, have woven their own legend into the natural fabric, becoming the protagonists of a story as surprising as it is bittersweet.
How did the squirrels get to Fuerteventura?
The story goes back to the middle of the 20th century, when a resident of Gran Tarajal, on a trip full of anecdotes and memories of Africa, returned in 1965 with a pair of squirrels. Those tiny messengers from Sidi Ifni, a former Spanish colony, found in Fuerteventura the perfect setting for their adventure. In an almost poetic twist, the accidental escape of one of them and the subsequent release of his companion triggered a colonisation so rapid and surprising that today it is something that is being studied and controlled. Within a few years, the pair of squirrels became a crowd that moves with the agility of the wind around every corner of the island.
Why are the authorities asking not to feed the squirrels on Fuerteventura?
Although their charming appearance may seduce anyone, feeding these little creatures has consequences that go beyond a tourist anecdote. Authorities insist on watching them without intervening, and the reasons go beyond their incredible ability to reproduce uncontrollably:
Destruction of the environment
Squirrels, in their relentless search for food, compete with native flora and fauna. Their voracious appetite, which at first sight seems harmless, becomes a real threat for crops and endemic species, upsetting the balance of an already delicate ecosystem. They are like small storms that, while seemingly innocent, leave behind them the imprint of a transformed environment.
Transmissible diseases
Beyond ecological competition, experts warn that these squirrels can carry diseases. Close contact and hand feeding facilitate the transmission of viruses and bacteria, turning an apparently tender interaction into a health risk, both for humans and other species. Caution is therefore a gesture of respect for nature and public health.
They can lead to the following pathologies*:
*See here for the reference
Uncontrolled proliferation
The ease with which they have reproduced is astonishing: what began with a single pair has become a population explosion. With numbers approaching one million, the proliferation of the brown squirrel is almost unstoppable. This excessive growth is evidence of how, in the absence of its natural predators, the species is expanding at a rate that is difficult to contain and manage.
Risk of invading other Canary Islands
The danger is not limited to Fuerteventura. By moving unnoticed, either through vehicles (next to the engine) or human activities, these squirrels can become the emissaries of an invasive colonisation on other islands of the archipelago. This scenario threatens the biodiversity of regions that, until now, have maintained their own unique balance, as if each island were a small universe in itself.
What is the brown squirrel that inhabits Fuerteventura like?
The Moorish squirrel is a miniature spectacle. Its short, soft fur is decorated with fine bands that resemble the brushstrokes of a passionate artist. Its bushy, bushy tail spreads out like a fan, testifying to the energy and vitality that characterise it. Its head, with reddish-brown shades, and its tiny ears, attentive to every whisper of the wind, complete the image of a little animal that, despite its size, encloses in its eyes the history of a journey whose origin goes beyond the Majorero coasts.
Where to see squirrels in Fuerteventura?
Watching these small acrobatic creatures is almost like witnessing a spontaneous dance in the middle of a desert landscape. They can be found in numerous corners of the island, from footpaths and parks to the outskirts of urban areas where, on occasions, human curiosity invites their appearance. However, it is essential to admire them from a distance. Enjoying their agility and unique beauty without interfering with their natural behaviour is the best way to preserve the fragile balance they maintain in this corner of the world. One of the most famous places on the island to observe them is Montaña Blanca or Chipmunk Mountain
How many squirrels are there on Fuerteventura?
The scale of their proliferation is almost mythical: there is talk of numbers exceeding one million individuals on the island. Imagine a tiny army, a legion of agile creatures that, with no natural predators to contain their advance, have multiplied their presence as if they were the foam that floods the shore on a stormy day.
