Red Squirrel Soft Toy - Hansa Creation Plush

The red squirrel by Hansa Creation sits upright with its front paws held close to its chest — as if it has just found a nut. Its red-brown fur fades to a light cream on the belly, and the bushy tail curves gently upwards. Airbrush accents around the nose, paws and eyes give the face an alert, inquisitive expression. In nurseries or primary schools, this soft toy works well in topics such as woodland habitats, seasons or how animals prepare for winter. Autumn projects in particular come alive when children can hold a squirrel and learn about food hoarding first-hand. In elderly care, the familiar animal often brings back memories of park walks or feeding squirrels in the garden. Like all Hansa Creation animals, this plush toy is entirely hand-crafted — each fabric piece is individually cut and sewn using the inside-out method, leaving virtually no visible seams.

The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) lives in coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests across most of Europe and has long since made itself at home in urban parks and gardens too. With a head-to-body length of 20 to 25 cm and an equally long bushy tail, it weighs between 200 and 400 grams. Its coat ranges from vivid red-brown to dark chocolate brown. The distinctive ear tufts, which grow especially long in winter, clearly set it apart from the North American grey squirrel. Red squirrels do not truly hibernate but enter a state of winter rest — on mild days they leave their drey to search for buried food stores.

Did you know that squirrels have to learn how to crack nuts? Using their lower incisors, they first gnaw a small hole into the shell, then use the teeth as a lever to prise a piece away. This technique is not innate — young squirrels need several attempts before they master it. What is more, squirrels can be left- or right-handed: when turning a pine cone, each individual consistently favours one side over the other.