News and Blogs

Author: Dr Mel Tonkin A new study has confirmed that Scotland’s recovering pine martens are having a positive effect on red squirrels. Conservationists have long suspected that pine martens could help control the spread of grey squirrels in Scotland, a theory that was bolstered when research conducted in Ireland in 2014 produced very promising results. Now a paper published in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society – B confirms that Scotland’s recovering pine martens are indeed having such a positive effect on the local red squirrel populations. This research clearly shows that in the parts of Scotland where pine martens exist alongside red and grey squirrels, there is a trend of decline in grey squirrels and increase in red squirrels. Furthermore, the higher the density of pine martens, the greater the effect the researchers found. Although the exact mechanisms are still unclear, the recent research suggests that grey squirrels may not be adapted to deal with a tree-dwelling mammalian predator such as the pine marten, since its natural range in North America does not overlap with any similar predators. It’s also possible that because grey squirrels are larger and spend more time on the ground, they are easier for the native predator to catch. Red squirrels have evolved alongside pine martens and therefore may also be naturally more cautious of pine martens, and modify their behaviour more to prevent being predated on. The research was conducted over thr ...

Original Author: Alexa Seagrave It’s February and preparations are well underway for the 2018 squirrel survey. Conservation Officer Alexa Seagrave explains what the survey is all about and why spring is such a great time to get outdoors and look for squirrels.   Last week we published the results of our 2017 squirrel survey, with the good news that overall red squirrel populations in Scotland have stabilised. This is an incredibly encouraging outcome, as it shows that the work we’re doing to protect Scotland’s most threatened red squirrels is really making a difference. However there wasn’t much time to stop and celebrate as preparations for the 2018 survey are well underway. After weeks of planning behind the scenes, things properly kicked off when a team of volunteers visited our Edinburgh HQ to help prepare the packs that are sent out to each survey volunteer. Maybe not the most exciting task, but between all the cutting, sticking and folding there was plenty of cake and biscuits to keep us all going. Volunteers at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre also helped build 80 new feeder boxes to replace those that have become damaged or missing since last year. Now we just need to fill the last few volunteering vacancies, check each of the survey sites, and we're ready to go! Making feeder boxes with Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre volunteers  © Sarah Cooper What’s the survey about? Since 2012, Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels has been conducting an ...

  Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has published the results of its 2017 annual survey, which indicate that overall Scotland’s red squirrel populations have stabilised, with significant gains in the North East.   © Raymond Leinster Since 2011, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has been monitoring squirrel populations in the parts of the country where red squirrels are most under threat from the spread of non-native grey squirrels. Grey squirrels, which were introduced to Britain from North America in the 19th Century, out-compete red squirrels for resources, and can also carry squirrelpox, a virus that doesn't harm them but is deadly to reds. The 2017 survey results show that red squirrel populations have remained stable in the past year, a sign that with continued effort from conservationists and volunteers, their decline can be halted. The most positive results were found in North East Scotland, where red squirrels have significantly increased their range, particularly around Aberdeen. This correlates with a recent flurry of red squirrel sightings reported increasingly close to the city centre. In Tayside and the Central Lowlands, red squirrels have maintained their range, indicating that the project, which was awarded a £2.4m National Lottery grant last year, is successfully protecting Scotland’s largest red squirrel population north of the Highland Boundary Line. Mary-Anne Collis, Red Squirrel Conservation Officer for Argyll, the Tro ...

Original Author: Gill Hatcher It’s the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend. Are your feeders filled up and ready to go? Once the fun is over, why not be a hero for nature and give them a good spring clean. You’ll be helping to keep your furry (and feathered) garden visitors happy and healthy.   © Philip Bird The RSPB is asking us all to devote one hour this weekend to recording the birds we see in our garden or local green space. They would also like to know what other species regularly pay us a visit, including red and grey squirrels. Most people around the UK will stand a much better chance of seeing a grey squirrel, but for the lucky few, red squirrels are the norm. Especially in gardens where they know they'll find a ready food supply. In our red squirrel feeding guide, we recommend only supplying small amounts of food at irregular intervals, to prevent squirrels developing a dependency on supplementary food. Even so, with our busy lives, it’s not always easy to remember, and keeping up with the appetite of a hungry squirrel can be a challenge! It's even more difficult to find the time to keep feeding equipment clean, but this is one of the most important things you can do to help keep the wildlife in your garden healthy.   The problem One of the greatest threats to red squirrels is the squirrelpox virus, which first came to the UK with the introduction of non-native grey squirrels. The grey squirrels that carry squirrelpox display ...

As 2017 comes to a close, many of us are beginning to think about what kind of year we would like the next one to be. Why not make 2018 the year you take action for your local wildlife?   © Steve Gardner We couldn’t protect Scotland’s red squirrels without all the support we receive from our volunteers. We believe that an inter-connected, landscape-scale approach to red squirrel conservation is the only way we can ensure the future of our native species, and fortunately there are lots of people who agree with us. In south Scotland, we’re working closely with local community groups to ensure red squirrels are protected in the areas where they most need our help. You don’t have to be an expert to join in, and there are all sorts of roles, from simply reporting your squirrel sightings to participating in our annual spring surveys. Volunteering can be a great way to get outdoors and connect with nature, but equally there are lots of ways to get involved that suit all kinds of skills and abilities.   Special call for volunteers in Glenkens The Glenkens Red Squirrel Group has been working with us since 2014 to help protect their local red squirrel population. Like many parts of Dumfries & Galloway, Glenkens is a stronghold for reds; but they are under threat as grey squirrel numbers increase. If you live in the area and would like to get involved, please contact us at squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk The group currently has a particu ...

Original Author: Gill Hatcher Did you ever pick up pinecones when you were little? Maybe you still do! Here at Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels we’re always keeping one eye to the ground, because even when red squirrels are being elusive, they might be leaving clues behind.   Red squirrels have surprisingly varied diets. They love nuts, but they also eat berries, fungi, plant shoots— even bird eggs. Cones are a particularly important source of food. If you’ve every picked one up that looks like it’s been through a shredder, it could very well be the remains of a red squirrel’s lunch. © Elana Bader However, squirrels aren’t the only animals that strip cones for their seeds. Other rodents such as mice will do the same. One of the key ways to tell the difference is the neatness of the stalk that’s left behind. Red squirrels tend to be a bit less precise than their smaller woodland neighbours. They’re more likely to get stuck in there, leaving a raggedy stalk behind. There’s something special about holding one of these cones in your hand. It’s a chance to make a more personal connection with an animal we often only get a fleeting glimpse of high in the trees, or watch from the safe distance of a hide or a kitchen window. Of course, if you come across a cache of cones, try not to disturb it too much as its owner might plan to return for seconds. We’ve been thinking about cones because this week is National Tree Week, the UK's largest t ...

  For the first time in many years, red squirrels have been spotted at Aberdeen’s James Hutton Institute and near the University of Aberdeen— a promising sign that this charismatic species is making a comeback in the city. © Raymond Leinster There have been three significant red squirrel sightings in recent weeks: one on the grounds of the James Hutton Institute in the west, and two further sightings near the University of Aberdeen, just north of the city centre. The rare sightings, which were reported to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, provide further indication that red squirrels are returning to their old strongholds. The sightings are some of the closest to Aberdeen city centre recorded in recent times, suggesting that red squirrels are gradually making their way back to the city’s parks and gardens after decades of absence. Red squirrels were once common across Aberdeen. However, they have been replaced by the non-native grey squirrel, which out-competes reds for food and shelter. Dr. Gwen Maggs, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Conservation Officer for north east Scotland said: “These sightings are fantastic news for the project, which has been continuously working to reduce grey squirrel numbers in the city since 2009. We are beginning to see red squirrel populations establishing themselves in key areas, such as Seaton Park and around the James Hutton Institute, which is enabling individuals to move even further into urban areas. Thi ...

Original Author: Mary-Anne Collis Conservation Officer Mary-Anne Collis gives us an update on what’s been happening in Argyll, Trossachs and Stirlingshire.   We’ve been very busy in the Argyll, Trossachs and Stirlingshire region this year. I’ve been on a personal mission to say hello to as many people as possible, spreading the word about submitting your squirrel sightings, both red and grey. Your sightings really help us to know what’s happening in the region and to target our efforts effectively. Keep them coming!   We really have gotten into the squirrel spirit, with squirrel-shaped gingerbread to celebrate Red Squirrel Week back at the end of September, and a recent visit from ‘Sandy the squirrel’ at Balmaha National Park Visitor Centre. We also attended the RSPB Bioblitz in Glasgow Botanic Gardens, and red squirrel days at Argaty Red Kites, and all across the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. ©Katherine Rennie   Throughout the year we’ve been helped by lots of volunteers at our local events, and a big thank you goes out to them and those that have continued to help out with other aspects of the project. With the Cowal Red Squirrel group we’ve helped promote the new squirrel hide at Benmore Botanic Garden that opened in spring, and as a result there have been lots of red squirrel sightings in the gardens so far this year. One of our aims is to try and make the National Park a red squirrel-only zone, althou ...

Original Author: Gill Hatcher They may not be visiting our gardens as often, but autumn is one of the busiest times of year for red squirrels. It's also the best time to get out into nature and see them in action as they prepare for the winter months ahead.   What could be better on a crisp October day than watching as red squirrels scurry round your garden, coats perfectly colour coordinated for the season. However, it’s at this time of year that Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels often receives messages from members of the public who are concerned that their regular garden visitors have strangely disappeared. Although disappointing for their human friends, in the majority of cases this disappearance is actually good news. It’s autumn, and red squirrels simply don’t have the time to pay us a visit. They’re far too busy taking advantage of all the tasty, nutritious food that nature has on offer. Nuts, berries, mushrooms… everything squirrels love and need to stay healthy is in season right now. © No Bad Photos Autumn is a crucial time of year for red squirrels. They’re not just gorging themselves, they’re also preparing for the harsher winter months ahead. Unlike some other Scottish mammals, red squirrels don’t hibernate, which means they’re going to need a good stockpile of food to keep them going. If you’re out enjoying a woodland walk this month, keep an eye on the forest floor and you might be lucky to spot a squirrel frantically c ...

  Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels is calling for the public to report more red squirrel sightings in Dumfries & Galloway to help paint a truer picture of the region's native wildlife.   Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels encourages the public to report their sightings of both red and grey squirrels, to help the project monitor the situation across the country. However, in Dumfries & Galloway, the sightings map does not tell the full story. The region is home to a significant population of red squirrels, but numbers have fallen rapidly in recent decades, as non-native grey squirrels have moved into their territory. Grey squirrels out-compete red squirrels for food and shelter. They also carry squirrelpox, a virus that doesn't harm them but is deadly to red squirrels. Squirrelpox is a particular threat in Dumfries & Galloway, where outbreaks have been recorded near Lockerbie, Thornill and Moffat. However, despite these challenges, red squirrels are known to be holding on strong in many parts of Dumfries & Galloway, with the project's spring survey results suggesting that there are still many places with red-only populations. Dr. Stephanie Johnstone, Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels Conservation Officer for the region said: "People in many parts of Dumfries & Galloway are fortunate to be living so close to red squirrels, and are very used to having them around. Places like Gatehouse of Fleet, New Galloway and New Abbey are havens for ...