New Frontiers for Volunteers

…as a field technician and research assistant studying rodent populations and testing two methods for controlling the plague (Yersinia pestis) a.k.a. Black Death. There I gained a lot of hands-on experience trapping and handling rats, mice, squirrels and chipmunks, as well as the odd striped and spotted skunks (striped skunk below). Next, after 2 and a half years away I… […]

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All things invasive with the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

…staggering 94% decline in native water vole populations? The American skunk-cabbage plant does actually smell as bad as a skunk….   White butterburr was imported as a garden ornamental from mainland Europe and SW Asia and escaped into the wild.   What is an Invasive Species? There are around 2,000 non-native plants and animals in the UK, these non-native species… […]

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News: Public citizen science effort creates snapshot of squirrel distributions across Scotland.

Participants of the 2022 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey have helped to build a better picture of red and grey squirrel distributions across Scotland, helping conservation efforts across the country. Members of the public helped contribute significantly to red squirrel conservation in Scotland by reporting sightings during the annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey Week in October of last year. This was… […]

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News: Over £1M in new funding awarded to aid red squirrel recovery in Scotland

Over £1m in new funding has been announced to aid red squirrel conservation efforts in key areas across Scotland for the next two years. A total grant of £1,052,796 has been awarded by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot, which supports the restoration of wildlife and habitats across the country. The new funds will support the Scottish… […]

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Community Hub FAQs

Community Hub FAQs   General Troubleshooting I cannot access my Hub account If you cannot access your Hub account consider these options: Incorrect username / password Your username will be the single word (no spaces) name you entered when you registered with the Hub. The email address you registered with can also be entered as a username. If you have… […]

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A lucky escape!

…up a camera in your garden or local park could surprise – you often find foxes, roe deer, or maybe even a badger or hedgehog rooting about (they work in the dark too!). We know many folks out there who use trail cams just for a bit of fun and take them with them on days out and holidays and… […]

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This Year's Sightings