…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… […]
…you have a reasonable chance of seeing red squirrels year-round and the best time of day to see them is the morning. In the summer they can be seen throughout the day but again your best chance of seeing them is morning or early evening. Once you’ve wandered off the beaten track, search for signs of squirrels. Although squirrels (particularly… […]
…what you find! Click the link below for the scavenger hunt checklist: DOWNLOAD Try our word search We’ve hidden away 10 squirrel related words, can you find them? Click the links below for the word search puzzle: DOWNLOAD ANSWERS Fill in the blanks Can you help us tell the story of Scotland’s red squirrel by filling in the blanks? Click… […]
…efforts to remove the threat. It has been observed throughout the UK that when grey squirrels move into an area, the local red squirrel population is gradually replaced due to competition for resources such as food and living space. Although grey squirrels occur in Dunkeld, this is generally the northern limit of their range in Perthshire. Sightings of greys… […]
…produces 20-30,000 seeds per flower head They are successful dispersers e.g. Himalayan balsam has exploding seed pods that spread its seed several metres, and a female mink can travel 80km in search of a breeding territory In addition, invasive plants often readily thrive on disturbed soils and making them very opportunistic and able to rapidly colonise a new area. They… […]
…and living space, making it difficult for red squirrels to successfully breed and for their young to survive. When grey squirrels move into a new area, red squirrels can be completely replaced within 15 years. The grey squirrel is a North American species that was first introduced to Britain in Victorian times, to decorate the gardens of large stately homes…. […]
…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… […]
