News and Blogs

  During the Covid-19 lockdown in Galloway, members of the Squirrel Group in and around Gatehouse of Fleet have continued to monitor their local red squirrel population from the comfort of their own homes and gardens. Peter Garson tells us all about a garden count scheme which just keeps on running.   Seeing red squirrels when you are out in the woods is really not that easy – an occasional chance event for most of us. It’s a lot easier if you have a thermal imaging scope, as this kit detects heat and can even ‘see’ though the vegetation, although coming in at a high price means this is not a feasible option for most of us. Reds are naturally sparse in broadleaf woodlands (where greys can be up to ten times more common), but at least there are few leaves to obscure our view for half of the year. Conifers provide a much better habitat for reds and are more important for them as greys do less well there - but the dense foliage and close spacing of trees in plantations makes it really hard for spotting squirrels. So, whilst we can map chance sightings of reds, how can we get a handle on how many squirrels there are out there in Gatehouse? This is important, because distribution and abundance are the two key measures of conservation status for threatened populations through time – we really need to measure both. Providing food for red squirrels via bird feeders in gardens is the way most of us get to see them regularly. Some people put up the specia ...

  Following a report of two grey squirrels in Aberfeldy, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels are asking Perthshire residents in the Aberfeldy, Dunkeld and Pitlochry areas to be on high alert. Locals are urged to report all sightings of grey squirrels to help protect Perthshire’s red squirrel populations.   Over the last week, two sightings of grey squirrels have raised concern for the security of Perthshire’s red squirrels. Grey squirrels are known to occur in Dunkeld and Birnam, and in lesser numbers as far north as Dalguise. These most recent reports from the Aberfeldy area mark a potential northward spread of grey squirrels which could have serious consequences for the area’s red squirrel populations. The greatest threat facing Scotland’s red squirrels today is the presence of the invasive non-native grey squirrel, which were first introduced in the late 1800s and soon replaced red squirrels throughout most of the UK. Larger and more robust, grey squirrels outcompete reds for resources such as food and living space, making it difficult for red squirrels to successfully breed and for their young to survive. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS), a National Lottery-funded partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, have been monitoring squirrel populations across the country since 2009. This year, SSRS have received an increase in squirrel sightings reported from the Dunkeld and Birnam area which initially raised concerns that gre ...

  For the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels team the health, safety and wellbeing of our volunteers, staff and the public is our highest priority as we follow the latest guidance from the Scottish Government in transitioning out of lockdown. We have issued the following information for SSRS volunteers in light of the most recent easing of restrictions.   Recognising that nature has an important role to play in both physical and mental wellbeing, outdoor volunteering can provide many positive benefits at this time. And so, where we are able to operate safely, we are pleased to offer opportunities for further outdoor volunteer work to recommence with us where new measures are in place.   Grey squirrel control volunteers In June, we welcomed the return of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels grey squirrel control staff and essential control volunteers to outdoor working who were able to work alone and apply social distancing measures in alignment with our new SSRS Covid-19 risk assessments for outdoor working. Following the latest easing of restrictions, grey squirrel control volunteers are now able to travel outwith a 5 mile radius of home to conduct voluntary control work. Trap-loan scheme & trap hosts For those on the trap-loan scheme trapping on their own property and therefore able to abide by all Government guidelines as an independent unit, trapping can be resumed as normal. For those participating in the trap-loan scheme in which dis ...

  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. ...