Hokkaido squirrel; Ezo red squirrel
A subspecies of the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis) native to Hokkaido. The name is a specific zoological term, but it is also used in everyday contexts when referring to this animal.
I spotted a Hokkaido squirrel in a forest in Hokkaido.
The Hokkaido squirrel stores nuts in preparation for winter.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; the kanji form 蝦夷栗鼠 is rare and mainly encountered in older or specialized texts.
Kanji spelling is uncommon; learners will almost always see the katakana form.
Compound of 蝦夷 (Ezo, old name for Hokkaido) and 栗鼠 (squirrel). The katakana spelling エゾリス is the standard modern form.