News and Blogs

  Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has adjusted its Priority Areas for Red Squirrel Conservation (PARCs) in the south of Scotland to better protect existing populations of red squirrels.   PARCs were first introduced in 2014, as a new approach to red squirrel conservation action in southern Scotland aimed at targeting limited project resources to the areas where they will provide the greatest benefit to red squirrel populations in the region. From years of project experience we know that to successfully protect red squirrels, it is essential that grey squirrel control operations are sustained and coordinated across a landscape; focusing our work on priority areas gives us a stronger chance of achieving this. Whilst we aim to create enduring networks of red squirrel protection measures within these PARCs, in order to ensure they remain effective, it is necessary that the PARCs retain some flexibility so that we can adapt to changing situations in the region. In 2019, several of the original PARC boundaries were reviewed and redrawn based on the latest evidence on the ground. Decisions were based on a variety of factors such as the presence of healthy red squirrel populations, the urgency of threat from grey squirrels, support and cooperation from local landowners and the presence of existing volunteers and red squirrel network groups or sufficient human populations from which new volunteer networks could develop. The most recently revised PARC boundaries ...

  Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is asking Kincardineshire residents to help protect red squirrel populations by reporting all sightings of red squirrels and their non-native cousin, the grey squirrel.   Grey squirrels are known to occur sporadically in low numbers between the Rivers South Esk and North Esk, the latter forming a natural boundary between Angus and Aberdeenshire. Growing numbers of grey squirrels have been recorded north of the River North Esk at Benholm and Inglismaldie Woods to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels in recent weeks, raising concerns for the red squirrel populations of Aberdeenshire. Aberdeen is the only location in northern Scotland which has an established grey squirrel population. They were first recorded in the city’s leafy parks and gardens in the 1970s, and soon replaced red squirrels across the city and in many neighbouring areas of Aberdeenshire as far away as Banchory and Alford. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, a National Lottery-funded partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, has been working since 2009 to restore the red squirrel population by removing the grey squirrel competitor, allowing reds to recover. As a result, in recent years grey squirrels have been increasingly confined to urban Aberdeen, with red squirrels being seen in more areas of the city each year. An ongoing monitoring campaign across the region, which relies heavily on the help of local volunteers, has enabled the project ...

  Following the First Minister’s announcement of Phase 1 of the Route Map easing coronavirus restrictions, in which it was stated that priority outdoor work that has been put on hold could resume from Friday 29th May, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been working on guidance that will allow priority outdoor activities to restart.   The first Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels staff to resume outdoor work were our Grey Squirrel Officers, who returned on the 1st June, working alone and applying control measures that have been set in place by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels. We are now issuing measures that will allow priority grey squirrel control volunteers to return to work where they can do so safely.   Grey squirrel control volunteers A specific Covid-19 Risk Assessment has been developed in collaboration with other government and non-government outdoor-based organisations and is now ready for circulation to essential grey squirrel control volunteers. This can be accessed through the Community Hub Grey Squirrel Control Group documents, or by contacting your local Community Engagement Officer or Conservation Officer. In accordance with government guidelines, priority grey squirrel control work must be undertaken unaccompanied (or only in the presence of people from the same household). Volunteers must also remain within a short distance of their local community (broadly within 5 miles) and not undertake any un ...

  Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is calling for the public to report sightings of both red and grey squirrels in Stirling and the wider area to help protect local red squirrel populations.   Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, has been monitoring squirrel populations since 2009. Public sightings play an important role in helping measure the impact of conservation efforts, guiding our long-term strategy for protection of Scotland’s core red squirrel populations where they are threatened by the spread of the non-native grey squirrel. Stirling and its surrounds are extremely important areas for the project, as both red and grey squirrels can be found locally. Grey squirrels pose the greatest threat to the red squirrel’s future in Scotland. Larger and more robust, they not only compete more successfully than the reds for food and resources, they may also carry squirrelpox virus, which causes a disease that is fatal to red squirrels. Stirlingshire is fortunate to have areas of pristine red squirrel populations that have never seen grey squirrels. These areas are predominantly found in or near Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project is supporting local communities to take action to ensure red squirrels continue to thrive. Spring kit at SSRS feeder box near Stirling University © Alex Elliott This year public sigh ...

  For Volunteers' Week, David Miller, Chair of the East Wigtownshire Red Squirrel Group reflects on the group’s experiences one year after its formation. Established in 2019, the aim of the group is to protect the red squirrels of the River Cree catchment and the Machars Peninsula. Although red squirrels are still thriving in the area, they are coming under increasing threat from the non-native grey squirrel. Now 16 members strong, these dedicated volunteers are working hard to secure a future for local red squirrels.   It's been just over a year since East Wigtownshire Red Squirrel Group formed. In that time we have seen the group grow from strength to strength, both in numbers, and financially. It always surprises me how dedicated a group of people can be to a cause or campaign. It's also astonishing to see the amount of donations appear from organisations and companies when you least expect it. One recent donation, from Red Alert South West Scotland, will have a positive impact on our work. The money, used for purchasing trail cameras, will be used in survey work to encourage the long-term sustainability of red squirrels in our region. Red Alert Presentation with the Treasurer for Red Alert South West Scotland © David Miller We have also been busy promoting the new group with leaflets distributed across the area in key public spaces and buildings to build up a presence and awareness of the group, its aims and how new volunteers can become involved. ...

  Multiple suspected cases of squirrelpox from Cardrona in the Scottish Borders have been reported to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels in recent weeks.   Sightings and photographs of sick red squirrels, believed to be suffering from squirrelpox, have been reported to us from Cardrona and the surrounding area. While we investigate the situation further, we ask people living in the area to please remove wildlife feeders from your gardens in order to avoid spreading the disease to healthy red squirrels visiting the feeders. Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels without causing them any harm. However, if spread to red squirrels the disease is deadly. Feeding stations can encourage both species to come into close contact and increase the risk of spreading disease. If sick red squirrels are present in an area, they can transmit the disease to other red squirrels via feeding stations. Squirrelpox causes red squirrels to develop wet pus-filled lesions on their faces, particularly around the eyes, nose and mouth, as well as on their paws and genitalia. They become unwell and the lesions make it difficult to eat or drink, climb or walk, in almost all cases leading to death within two weeks. Red squirrel showing signs of squirrelpox © Tony Maslin Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels asks people to remain vigilant for any further incidences of sick red squirrels in or near the Cardrona area and to please report them by contacting local Community Enga ...

  A rare white squirrel has been photographed near Dunkeld in Tayside.   Chris Eddington was taken by surprise while having breakfast when he spotted an unfamiliar animal in his garden through the kitchen window. With a camera close at hand, he managed to capture photographs of the visitor. The sighting and photographs were reported to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which monitors squirrel populations across Scotland. Project staff have confirmed this is a native red squirrel with a condition called leucism. © Chris Eddington Ann-Marie MacMaster, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Conservation Officer for Tayside said: “Leucism is a genetic condition which causes loss of hair pigmentation. It is similar to albinism but does not affect eye colour. “Chris’s pictures are some of the best images we’ve seen of a leucistic red squirrel. Its distinct ear tufts and delicate body shape and size clearly distinguish this animal from its non-native cousin, the grey squirrel.” Tayside is an important area for red squirrel conservation. Work in the region is vital to prevent invasive grey squirrels from crossing the highland line and reaching the areas where the UK’s core red squirrel population resides. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has received a rise in squirrel sightings since the start of the lockdown, as people have more time to watch and record the wildlife they see. ...

  Following last month’s suspension of all SSRS outdoor volunteer work in light of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the decision has been made to cancel the project’s annual survey which takes place in Spring.   After careful consideration, it has been decided that the 2020 annual Spring Survey will not continue after lockdown restrictions are lifted. For the health and safety of volunteers, we ask all SSRS Spring Survey participants to continue following government guidelines and refrain from traveling to feeder boxes while restrictions are in place.   What should I do with my Spring Survey kit? Stickies: those collected prior to the survey suspension may still prove useful for smaller scale localised insights. For collected stickies, please complete the data sheet up to the date of survey suspension to reflect this. Both used and unused stickies can be sent to SSRS in the return envelope that was included in your survey pack – but please wait until restrictions are lifted as your samples may be lost while some postal services are suspended. Bait: if possible please store bait in a sealed container in a cool, dry place until restrictions are lifted. If you are unable to store bait you are welcome to use it in your garden. Please be advised that we recommend cleaning garden feeders regularly for the health of all garden wildlife and to prevent the spread of squirrelpox. Additional equipment (e.g. camera traps): equipment and sti ...

  Professor Ronald J Roberts, Chairman of Bradan Biosecurity, discusses the importance of strong biosecurity protocols and how they can protect Scotland’s red squirrels from the threat of squirrelpox. He is a veterinary surgeon who has personally been involved in the development and testing of Virkon ®S, a broad-spectrum disinfectant, for the last 20 years. Virkon ®S is used across the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project to reduce the risk of squirrelpox spread.   Biosecurity is big news at present due to our concerns about the new Coronavirus in humans. In Britain, another virus, spread between squirrel species has proven invariably lethal to its new host – the native red squirrel. Squirrelpox is a pox virus with many of the characteristics of the smallpox and chickenpox viruses, it is not classified directly within the Parapoxvirus group - it is an outlier. Carried by American grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) without effect, squirrelpox is commonly found in greys from Ontario down to the Carolinas of Eastern North America. It is not known when squirrelpox came to UK but it was first confirmed in East Anglia in the 1980's and has gradually moved northwards. Red squirrels, (Sciurus vulgaris) our native species, are under threat from loss of habitat and competition with the larger introduced grey squirrel. Now it has been found that when there is cross-infection with the pox virus from grey squirrel carriers, eradication of the reds can be ar ...

  Two suspected cases of squirrelpox are being investigated in the Auchencairn and Sandyhills regions of the Solway Coast in Dumfries and Galloway.   Following the retrieval of a sick red squirrel believed to be suffering from squirrelpox by the SSPCA from Auchencairn last week and the sighting of another red squirrel showing squirrelpox symptoms at Sandyhills this week, we are asking people living within these areas to be extra vigilant. Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels without causing them any harm. However, if spread to red squirrels the disease is deadly. Red squirrels develop wet pus-filled lesions on their faces, particularly around the eyes, nose and mouth, as well as on their paws and genitalia. They become unwell and the lesions make it difficult to eat or drink, climb or walk, in almost all cases leading to death within two weeks. A sick red squirrel was retrieved by the SSPCA from Auchencairn © L. Read   If you live within the area and witness any sick red squirrels or grey squirrels in your garden, please immediately remove any wildlife feeding stations. We also ask that people across the Solway Coast please ensure that all garden feeding stations are regularly cleaned with an anti-viral solution such as Virkon S, which is available to purchase online in tablet and powder form. If you see a sick red squirrel, either in your garden, or while outdoors exercising, please contact squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org ...