Original Author: Liz Gunby Community Engagement Officer Liz Gunby reflects on her first summer inspiring community action in south Scotland, and talks about some upcoming opportunities to get involved in the project. This summer the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels team embarked upon its mission to inspire community action across the country. The holidays soon filled up with […]
Category: Blog
The future is bright in north east Scotland
Original Author: Matt Nuttall This week we are sadly saying goodbye to Matt Nuttall, our Conservation Officer for north east Scotland. Over the past year Matt has worked tirelessly in his mission to see red squirrels return to Aberdeen, with the help of Grey Squirrel Officers and a dedicated network of volunteers. Matt […]
Community action in Galloway
Original Author: Peter Garson Peter Garson, Chair of Gatehouse Squirrel Group and Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels volunteer, tells us about how he and his local community are working to ensure red squirrels continue to have a home in Dumfries & Galloway. When I moved to Galloway in the autumn of 2013, I was […]
Our new recruits: welcome to Team Squirrel!
It’s a really exciting time to be working for Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels. Earlier this year we announced that the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been awarded a grant of £2.46 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), for a new phase in the project called ‘Developing Community Action’. Thanks to support from HLF and the […]
The Riddle of the Balding Squirrels
Original Author: Mel Tonkin Why are some squirrels losing so much hair in the spring that parts of them are completely bald? Every year in April to May we get a flurry of queries relating to red squirrels that have lost large parts of their coat, leaving large areas of their body totally hairless. Often […]
2016 Spring Survey Report
Original Author: Mel Tonkin – SSRS Project Manager In Spring of 2016 a magnificent 222 tetrads, each with 4 feeder-boxes, were completed across our project areas – that’s 2,664 hair samples! The coverage we achieve with our surveys is in large measure down to the amazing volunteer effort that goes into looking after the […]
Sprinting Winter Squirrels
Original Author: Stewart Smith and Mel Tonkin Spring in southern Scotland is on the cusp of springing. Leaf buds bulge on trees, and daffodil bulbs are nudging each other, encouraging one to launch a shoot. Red Squirrels breed early in the year, and adult females can be pregnant as early as mid January. It is […]
To feed or not to feed?
Original Author: Alexa Seagrave We often get asked about feeding red squirrels, and the very best thing you can do is make your garden as wildlife friendly as possible. Planting native shrubs and small trees for berries and nuts will provide the best natural food for free and give the best nutrition. So get out […]
Shape up with the squirrel diet plan
Original Author: Stewart Smith – Squirrel Volunteer As we prepare our special flexible-waisted ‘January trousers’ ahead of the Christmas eating onslaught, our favourite redhead has other ideas. Your average adult red squirrel weighs in at a svelte 330 grams. It enjoys regular exercise – scampering and climbing being favourite pursuits. Its slim physique […]
Cosy hideouts
Original Author: Stewart Smith – Squirrel Volunteer How do squirrels survive the winter? Do they hibernate? The cold weather is a tough time for animals, how do they managed to stay warm? Winter has arrived in Scotland. People are trudging home in the dark at 4 o’clock, and newspapers are threatening blizzards, and “the […]