News and Blogs

Original Author: Dr Mel Tonkin, Project Manager   As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we have a golden opportunity to ensure that red squirrels remain an integral part of Scotland’s landscape for generations to come.   There’s no quick fix to the decline of native red squirrels in Scotland, a decline which goes back 150 years to the introduction of the larger non-native grey squirrel. Greys are able to outcompete reds for food and habitat and also carry squirrelpox – a virus lethal to reds but to which the greys are immune. However, five years in, the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project showed that – with sustained long-term effort – it is possible to reverse this decline and ensure that future generations will still have the chance to see this engaging species in the wild. We now have robust evidence that our strategy is working – the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project is doing just what it says on the tin. We are shortly due to publish a detailed report which details significant progress towards conserving red squirrel populations in Scotland. Reds are returning… Over 2013, the Trust analysed records collected by staff, landowners controlling grey squirrels, volunteers in our monitoring and trap-loan schemes and the general public. This data reveals that the collapse in Scottish red squirrel numbers has been halted and there are numerous examples of red squirrels returning to areas from which they had been absent for many ...

Original Author: Dr Mel Tonkin, Project Manager   With the fight to protect Scotland’s only native squirrel species reaching a critical stage, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse MSP visits the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project.   At the start of September, the Scottish Wildlife Trust welcomed a visit by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, to Southesk Estate in Angus to see the vital work undertaken by Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS). During his visit, Mr. Wheelhouse had an opportunity to inspect squirrel traps in the area and discuss the most recent developments with Project Manager Dr Mel Tonkin. The meeting also provided an opportunity to showcase the project and demonstrate how working in partnership with landowners has benefited this much-loved species. Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “Red squirrels are one of Scotland’s most recognisable and loved animals. The work of SSRS in raising awareness of their plight in north east Scotland is extremely important to preserving their future across Scotland.” Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP with Jonny Hughes of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Earl of Southesk. Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Simon Milne, said: “Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is an excellent example of how conservation bodies and landowners can – and indeed must – work toge ...

Original Author: Dr Mel Tonkin, Project Manager   A huge volunteer effort is helping Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels get an accurate picture of red and grey squirrel distribution in Scotland.   Despite the exceptionally cold, wet winter and late spring this year, our squirrel presence/absence surveys began as usual in March. We know squirrels must feed daily, but we found they were slow to visit the feeder boxes, seeming to prefer to keep exposure to the wet and cold to a minimum. As a result, some monitoring sites only registered the presence of squirrels in the last fortnight of the six-week surveys. Even so, for surveys in project areas north of the Central Belt, initial results suggest red squirrels are still as widespread as last year. Conversely – from our results so far – grey squirrel presence seems well down on last year; however, it is still too early to draw firm conclusions. In the south of Scotland, more than 100 new tetrads (or 2km square survey areas) were set up and surveyed for the first time this spring. Initial assessments of red squirrel distribution are encouraging, with the species noted at several key areas, including along the River Tweed in Berwickshire where squirrelpox has affected red squirrels in the past. Initial assessments of red squirrel distribution are encouraging, with the species noted at several key areas, including along the River Tweed in Berwickshire where squirrelpox has affected red squirrels in the pa ...