Squirrels are becoming OBESE thanks to unusually warm weather
SQUIRRELS in Britain are facing a new weight epidemic after waking up from hibernation earlier than usual.
Squirrels are becoming obese due to recent warm winter weather
Britain has recently experienced an unusually warm winter, which has caused squirrels to gorge on food early.
Many squirrels are now gaining more weight than normal as they eat whatever they can get their claws on.
While grey squirrels do not hibernate, they pile on extra weight to help them survive the cold winter days.
Grey squirrels are active all year round and rely heavily on the food they have scavenged and stored.
The fattest grey squirrel ever recorded weighed 1.71lbs which is equivalent to two grams of sugar.
Natalia Doran, a wildlife expert from London said: "While there are no implications to squirrels eating those foods, the dangers are the increased contact they are exposed to with people.
Grey squirrels pile on extra weight to help them survive the winter
Red squirrels could disappear warn conservationists
Ms Doran said that bins should be remained covered to protect the wildlife
"That's the real danger."
She also added that bins should be remained covered to protect the wildlife and stop animals from eating left over food.
The fattest grey squirrel ever recorded weighed 1.71lbs
This comes days after it was revealed that red squirrels are in threat of leprosy.
The bacterial form of the disease causes the squirrels to lose hairs different areas of their body.