…plastic turf? Then you’ll understand that it’s never been more important to create safe havens for wildlife in our urban and suburban environments. Fortunately, while some people continue to push out nature in favour of cars and convenience, others are making space in their lives for a bit of wildness. Thanks to increased awareness in recent years we’re leaving gaps… […]
…need to walk for hours into the depths of the largest forest ever, but do try to find a more secluded part of the forest, somewhere with fewer dog walkers and cyclists and horseback riders, just get that little bit further away from people in general. Once you find somewhere that’s a little off the beaten track, you’ll increase your… […]
Red Squirrel Rambles Digital walking trails Learn about one of Scotland’s most iconic yet threatened species while exploring their natural habitat. We’ve curated five walking routes from the parks and gardens of North East Scotland, to the forests of Dumfries and Galloway in an interactive app that will guide you on your adventure. LEARN MORE Activities at home Bring… […]
…sightings while out walking locally brought in further reports, and we were able to target close monitoring to a few specific sites. In February, we were able to confirm grey squirrel presence in Pitlochry and initiate grey squirrel control measures in early spring. Finally, we can report success in removing the first grey squirrel from Pitlochry. This may not seem… […]
…share in our enthusiasm and learn something new during the week. For example, did you know that… The estimated total annual costs of invasive non-native species to Scotland is more than £250 million? Giant hogweed leaves, which contain skin-burning sap, can grow up to 1m wide? Predation by the invasive American mink was one of the main factors in the… […]
…mites. We do not believe that leprosy is sufficiently common to pose a serious threat to the overall survival of red squirrels in Scotland. The main disease threat remains the squirrelpox virus. The risk to people from squirrel leprosy is negligible. The bacteria that causes leprosy cannot survive outside the body, and evidence shows that 95% of humans are naturally… […]
…Red Squirrels online Community Hub. Made possible thanks to National Lottery Players, the Community Hub is an online space where registered users can connect with both the project and other local squirrel enthusiasts. It’s also a tool to help people get more involved in red squirrel volunteering. Anyone can sign up and make an account, and there are different uses… […]
Ground-breaking research which aims to better understand how grey squirrels use the urban environment will take place in Aberdeen this year. The study is led by Dr Louise de Raad, Research Fellow at Inverness College UHI, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, in collaboration with the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project. Little… […]
…unintended consequences when the squirrels quickly spread far beyond their original range. As a larger and more robust species, they are able to out-compete our native red squirrel for food and living space. Some grey squirrels also carry Squirrelpox – a virus lethal to reds but to which the greys are immune. When Squirrelpox is present, the replacement process is… […]
…which never materialises. Red squirrels, meanwhile are haring around, eating what they can, burying nuts, and scurrying in the direction of their dreys. Contrary to popular belief, squirrels do not hibernate. However they do spent less time in search of food, and more time sleeping. To provide warmth and protection from the elements during the coldest months, squirrels build winter… […]
