News and Blogs

  Research carried out in Northern Ireland has highlighted the importance of native woodland for the long-term protection of red squirrels. The research modelled red squirrel populations in non-native conifer forests with the presence of pine martens— a natural predator to the red squirrel in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Pine martens had been persecuted to near-extinction in Scotland, but thanks to legal protections and reintroduction schemes they are gradually making a comeback across the country. Despite their appetite for squirrel, previous research has shown that the return of pine martens spells good news for our native reds, as their presence will reduce the number of grey squirrels in an area and enable the red population to recover. Unlike the non-native grey squirrels, pine martens and red squirrels have evolved to co-exist in our natural ecosystem. However, a new paper from Queen’s University Belfast and University of St Andrews suggests that in non-native conifer forests, the presence of pine martens may cause a decline in red squirrels. The predator’s appetite switches from grey squirrels – which are often absent in commercial conifers – to red squirrels. The researchers, together with Ulster Wildlife, bring into question red squirrel conservation strategies that focus on the planting of such forests.   Scotland’s conifer forests In Scotland, non-native conifer forests are planted for commercial purposes. By the 1930s ...

  In December over 100 SSRS volunteers, landowners and other supporters joined us online to celebrate the end of the project's 'Developing Community Action' phase. The two-day Knowledge Fair featured presentations and panel discussions on all that the project has achieved over the past five years. It was also an opportunity to learn more about the red squirrel conservation work happening across Scotland and beyond; and to look ahead to a future of working together to protect one of Scotland’s most iconic species. All the presentations and Q&A sessions are now available to watch again on YouTube, including our fantastic film 'The People Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels, created by Keildih Ewan.   YOUTUBE PLAYLIST   FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER   Session 1: Welcome to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels PROJECT FILM – The People Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels The SSRS-Developing Community Action story - Dr Mel Tonkin, Project Manager SSRS in the North East - Dr Emma Sheehy, Conservation Officer SSRS in Argyll, the Trossachs & Stirlingshire - Mary-Anne Collis, Conservation Officer SSRS in Tayside - Ann-Marie MacMaster, Conservation Officer SSRS in South Scotland - Sarah Cooper, South East Community Engagement Officer Session Q&A   Session 2: Around the UK Holding the Red Line in Northern England - Heinz Traut, Red Squirrels Northern England Northern Ireland updat ...

  The Scottish Wildlife Trust is pleased to announce that the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project has secured initial funding for a two-year transitional project phase in April 2022.   This ‘booster’ phase will enable the project to complete its aims and plan for the long-term future, leaving a legacy of sustainable and community-led red squirrel conservation across the south of Scotland. Vital conservation work will continue in all the project’s priority areas to help mitigate some of the challenges the project has faced in recent years. Supported by project partners, the new phase will run from April 2022 to March 2024. Project Manager Dr Mel Tonkin said: “Thanks to the hard work of our staff, volunteers, landowners and partners we’ve seen some fantastic success stories in the past five years. But the project has also faced challenges, particularly due to the impact of Covid-19. During lockdown much of our grey squirrel control and survey work was suspended. This additional two years will help us further secure the red squirrel’s place amongst Scotland’s special native wildlife.” Scottish Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Jo Pike said: “We’re delighted to have secured funding to enable the two-year transition phase to take place. The strength of the collaboration between partners, the quality of the data and evidence gathering, and the extraordinary contribution from volunteers have all combined to make this a project that is righ ...

  Back in September we asked the Scottish public once again to get outdoors, enjoy nature and keep an eye out for both red and grey squirrels during National Red Squirrel Week. Sightings were reported on the SSRS website and each one was individually verified. Now we are delighted to report that the results are in! 1099 people took part across the country, reporting an incredible 1549 sightings in just one week.     We were particularly keen to see this year’s results due to the impact Covid-19 has had on our annual Spring Survey, which has been cancelled for the past two years. More detailed analysis is ongoing, but the overall distribution of red and grey squirrels across the 2021 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey results map looks highly positive, reflecting the project’s continued progress towards achieving its aims in priority areas: Removal of grey squirrels from Aberdeen and the surrounding countryside, allowing reds to return to the city Protecting the ‘Highland Line’ – preventing grey squirrels from spreading further north towards Scotland’s core red squirrel populations in Grampian and the Highlands Protecting thriving red squirrel populations in the south of Scotland within ‘Priority Areas for Red Squirrel Conservation’ (PARCs) Participation in the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey was down from last year, although this isn’t surprising given 2020 was a bumper year for squirrel sightings. With lockdown restrictin ...

  Stormy weather has hit Scotland hard in recent weeks, causing severe hardship to many and devastation to some of our native and commercial woodlands. While the safety of our staff and volunteers is always our top priority, it’s not surprising that many people have been in touch with us to ask “how are the red squirrels coping?”   Some interesting facts about red squirrels: they are excellent home-builders and expert insulators. Squirrel nests (called dreys) are made from all sorts of sturdy and cosy materials. From the outside they might look like a messy ball of twigs, but they won’t fall apart that easily! Squirrel dreys are often so well insulated with moss, leaves and feathers that no heat can be seen escaping when viewed through a thermal imager. Perfect for a quiet night in! Red squirrels plan ahead and will usually have several dreys on the go at any one time, moving between them as and when suits them. So if a squirrel felt threatened in one drey they will often have the option to move elsewhere, and if a drey was destroyed they wouldn’t become homeless overnight. Of course, it is entirely possible that some red squirrels (and other wildlife) have been harmed as a result of Storm Arwen and Storm Barra, although measuring this would be a very difficult task. Certainly some sources of food will have been lost. However, we can take comfort knowing just how resourceful and adaptable these animals are. It is very unlikely local red squirrel ...

  Since way back in 2019 there has been a plan to build a hide from which we could watch and photograph woodland wildlife near Gatehouse. Finally, this mission has been accomplished with a launch event held in Cally Woods on Wednesday 10 November. This project has been led by the Gatehouse Squirrel Group, and its members’ generous donations covered the cost of all the necessary materials. Kevin Hughes of Cally Gardens welcomed the idea of hosting the hide in woodland that he owns behind and above his celebrated walled garden: we are very grateful to him for this access. A few dedicated Squirrel Group members have built the hide itself, using recycled timber whenever possible. The tree canopy has been opened up and the understorey cleared in places by the National Scenic Area volunteer team and others. Kevin intends plant a wide range of shrubs within view of the hide, to provide sources of food such as wild fruits and nuts for red squirrels, as well as any passing badgers and foxes. This vegetation will also host more invertebrates to entice many songbird species into view, including the pied flycatcher, a stunning and rare summer visitor already nesting in the vicinity. Even the roof of the hide will be planted up by Kevin with ferns, bilberries and other species in due course! Access to the hide has been encouraged by Forestry and Land Scotland as the custodians of the Cally Woods so many people enjoy visiting. The shortest route to take starts at the car park n ...

Red squirrel conservation is lending a helping hand to another iconic Scottish species, the golden eagle. Grey squirrels caught as part of essential population control work in the Moffat area are being used to feed hungry juveniles that have recently been released into the surrounding hills.   The Moffat & District Red Squirrel Group is a network of volunteers who have come together to protect their local red squirrels, with support from the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project. While the south of Scotland is home to healthy populations of red squirrels, they are seriously threatened by the spread of grey squirrels. Grey squirrels are an invasive species that out-competes native red squirrels for food and living space. They can also carry squirrelpox, a virus that does not harm them but is fatal to red squirrels. Dumfries & Galloway has suffered several squirrelpox outbreaks in recent years, but thanks to concerted grey squirrel control efforts the affected red populations have been able to bounce back. Alistair Graham of the Moffat & District Red Squirrel Group said: “It is widely recognized in the community that the main reason there have been so few red squirrels seen around Moffat is due to the influx of grey squirrels into the area. We are carrying out a very successful trapping programme with the support of local landowners and householders. Already this year we have had more than double the number of reported red squirrel sightings c ...

  If you are volunteering your time to help with grey squirrel control in your local patch, you might feel like your efforts are a drop in the ocean. But stay connected with the project and you’ll see the difference we can make when we all work together.   The greatest threat to the red squirrel’s future in Scotland is the spread of grey squirrels. Classified as an invasive non-native species, it is widely acknowledged that targeted, landscape-scale grey squirrel population control is essential if we want to reverse the decline of Scotland’s red squirrels. It’s a huge undertaking, but fortunately there are many passionate and experienced landowners and individuals volunteering to do their bit across priority areas. At Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels we understand that our decision to control grey squirrels comes with great responsibility, not just to ensure that all our staff and volunteers are acting legally but also safely and humanely. This is why the Standard Operating Procedures for everyone who traps on our behalf go beyond the legal minimum. If you are a grey squirrel control volunteer you’ll have received a copy of this protocol as part of your training, alongside all other essential health & safety documentation. It’s a good idea to look over these regularly, and the easiest way to keep up-to-date is by joining the SSRS Community Hub. There you’ll find all the latest versions of grey squirrel control documentation, as well as ...

  We are fast approaching the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey 2021, and following last year’s fantastic response we are really looking forward to seeing this year’s results. For those who haven’t participated before, the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey is a week-long event in September when we call on the general public to keep an eye out for red and grey squirrels in their area and submit their sightings to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels.   Why do we do this? The information we get from your squirrel sightings gives us a clear picture of both red and grey squirrel movements, and helps us and our volunteers to direct our control efforts where they are most needed. It also gives us a year on year comparison of red and grey squirrel distribution throughout Scotland so we can measure the progress of the project.   How do you submit your sightings? It’s very easy – just head to our website and on the homepage you can see the sightings information with a button for reporting a squirrel sighting. You will be asked for a grid reference, however if you are unable to supply this you can drop a pin on the map and a grid reference will be generated. If you have any additional comments on behaviour or location these can be really helpful, especially if you live in a squirrelpox hotspot (the south of Scotland) and think a red squirrel looks poorly.   Verification Our job is to look at each sighting to make sure that all the details are ...

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is calling on the public to take part in the nationwide Great Scottish Squirrel Survey between 20-26 September (National Red Squirrel Week). Now in its third year, the survey is needed more than ever due to the impact of Covid-19. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which is working in priority areas across Scotland to protect red squirrels from the spread of the non-native grey squirrel. Gill Hatcher, SSRS Communications & Engagement Officer said: “We are asking everyone in Scotland to go out and enjoy the outdoors during Red Squirrel Week, look out for both red and grey squirrels and add your sightings to our online map at scottishsquirrels.org.uk.” 2020’s Great Scottish Squirrel Survey was a record-breaking year, with 3160 squirrel sightings reported in just one week. Sightings help SSRS create a picture of the situation on the ground, and directly contribute to red squirrel conservation action. This year’s Great Scottish Squirrel Survey is all the more important because Covid-19 lockdown restrictions forced the cancellation of the project’s spring surveys in both 2020 and 2021. These annual systematic surveys, which used baited squirrel-hair sampling boxes at over 200 specific locations, provided robust distribution data for both red and grey squirrels that was invaluable for comparing the fortunes of squirrels from year-to-year. Project Manager ...