Conservation organisations have confirmed the presence of squirrelpox in red squirrels in Clackmannanshire.
Through a post-mortem examination of an adult male red squirrel found in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has confirmed that squirrelpox is present in the population. This is only the second time the virus has been detected north of the central belt.
Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels which does not affect them but can be rapidly lethal when passed to red squirrels. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of which can prevent reds from eating, drinking or moving. As a result, it is usually fatal within two weeks and if left unmanaged, an outbreak can cause local populations to crash.
The potential outbreak was first alerted to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) and the Eastern Lowlands Red Squirrel Group (ELRSG) in June, when a member of the public photographed a sick looking red squirrel in Dollar Glen. Since then, the conservation groups, volunteers, landowners and local residents have been on the lookout, reporting any sick or dead red squirrels they find.
People in the local area have been asked to take down any wildlife feeders in their gardens for at least two weeks to limit the spread of the virus. ELRSG is leading on the ground work to limit the spread of the virus.
Hollie Sutherland, Project Coordinator for the Eastern Lowlands Red Squirrel Group, said: “It is very upsetting to see red squirrels suffering and dying from squirrelpox in this area. We have a significant population of red squirrels in Clackmannanshire, which people are supportive and protective of. The virus has likely come from grey squirrels spreading into the area from the west of Dollar, where they have travelled north from the grey-only areas of the central belt.”
“We are looking for volunteers who would be happy to host our live traps in their garden, so we can continue monitoring the red and grey squirrel populations here, and removing grey squirrels to reduce the prevalence of squirrelpox. We are extremely grateful to the National Trust for Scotland and other landowners that have already allowed access to our contractors and trained volunteers, and any further support from any other landowners in the area that wish to help would be appreciated. Monitoring and managing disease outbreaks can be extremely challenging, so support from local councils, organisations and landowners is invaluable.”
Those interested in volunteering with survey and/or grey squirrel control efforts in the area can email elredsquirrelgroup@gmail.com.
SSRS works with independent conservation groups such as ELRSG, as well as volunteers, landowners and project partners including Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) to carry out monitoring and control, all to protect and restore red squirrel populations in Scotland.
FLS has also been working to create ‘woodland oases’ that bridge gaps between known red squirrel hot-spots to help them increase their range across the whole of the north of Scotland.
Lisa Kerslake, Wildlife Ecologist with FLS said: “Red squirrels are Scotland’s only native squirrel species, and we want to see them thriving in our forests and woodlands across the country. We’re working to ensure our forests are ecologically stable and suitable for red squirrels, which also means supporting a whole range of other native species and ecosystems.
“We’re proud to be a partner of SSRS, and we work with multiple projects that remove invasive non-native species, whether that is grey squirrels, rhododendron or American signal cray fish.
“Unfortunately, with tree diseases we have to fell trees – sometimes before they are infected – in order to slow the spread of the disease. A similar approach is required if we are to protect our native red squirrels from the squirrelpox.”
Squirrelpox can only be confirmed in red squirrels following a post-mortem examination, so it is difficult to get a full understanding of the virus. ELRSG is extremely grateful to vigilant people looking out for sick and dead red squirrels. The group is also looking into a sick red with possible signs of squirrelpox seen in Devilla Forest, Fife. The only other positive case of squirrelpox in a red squirrel north of the central belt was detected in Dunfermline in April 2024.
Scotland’s red squirrel populations are under threat from the spread of the invasive non-native grey squirrel which, along with carrying the squirrelpox virus, also outcompete red squirrels for food and habitat. Greys were first introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians and have since displaced red squirrels in most of England and Wales, with more than 75% of the UK’s total remaining population residing in Scotland today.
Research has shown that when squirrelpox is present, greys can replace red populations around twenty times as fast as they can through competition alone, but that when grey squirrel numbers are kept low, red squirrels are given enough time to repopulate an area after suffering a major decline. SSRS removes grey squirrels using live traps and humane despatch to reduce grey squirrel populations in areas where they are competing with red squirrels and have the potential to pass on squirrelpox.
People can report their sightings of both red and grey squirrels at scottishsquirrels.org.uk, along with emailing photos of sick reds to squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Details for how to post carcasses to the Vet School can also be found on the site. Although squirrelpox is not considered harmful to humans, anyone who sees a sick red squirrel is advised not to approach it, and instead contact the project for advice.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.