A squirrel tail
The first squirrel tail, introduced by Gregg
Squirrel Tails are rare and valuable items to Squirrels.
Conker's Bad Fur Day and Conker: Live and Reloaded[]
In Conker's Bad Fur Day and its remake, when Conker dies for the first time, he will be taken to the Underworld and meet Gregg the Grim Reaper. Gregg tells him that he is a special case (as he is a red squirrel), meaning he is able to live if he picks up squirrel tails, which give him more chances as he collects more. Conker then collects a squirrel tail hanging on a hook and is then whisked away by an unearthly hand. This squirrel tail gives Conker one extra life.
Throughout the game, the rare squirrel tails will be hanging in visible places ready to be collected. Sometimes throughout the adventure, there will be "hidden" squirrel tails. These are rarer and more valuable tails, and can be difficult to find, but they grant a lot more lives than just 1. You can find visible squirrel tails on hooks sometimes. No squirrel tails will appear on any level until Conker has met Gregg once.
A squirrel tail, as it appears in Conker's Bad Fur Day