'Derek' - part 4, the twilight years.

'Derek' the Forest How red squirrel.
Born March 2016, died March 2024. Sadly a victim of the recent squirrelpox outbreak at Forest How, Eskdale, Cumbria.
'Derek', son of 'Ben' and 'Caroline', became the dominant squirrel following the death of his father in the spring of 2018. He was to hold this position for four years.
Part 4 covers 2022 and 2023.
'Derek' maintained his dominant position through the summer of 2022, although he was not as visible in the guest house garden. He was, however, often to be found in his wood. He was up for a bit of fun, and seemed to enjoy the 'Milkpail Challenge' which was set up on the lower fellside, at the edge of the garden.
In the autumn of 2022, 'Derek' suffered a bad fall which resulted in a damaged left eye, split eyelid and a large lump on the top of his head. He was vulnerable, as he could not see with his left eye. Amazingly, by the spring of 2023, his eye had recovered and the swelling on his head had disappeared. However, he was clearly no longer the dominant squirrel, being chased out of the garden by a younger squirrel.
The final video recording was just after 05:00 on 28th May 2023. He was, however, photographed on many occasions up until February 2024, the new dominant male having gone missing before the spring of 2024. In hindsight, he also might have been a squirrelpox victim, with one or two grey squirrels having been seen in the area.
Sadly, suffering from squirrelpox, 'Derek' was found dead beside his tree in the same wood where he had been born eight years previously.

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