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As the warmth and brightness of summer give way to the colourful leaves and shorter days of autumn, the Scottish red squirrel is at their most active on the forest floor - caching food for the colder months ahead. The behaviour of red squirrels in autumn offers a window into the natural rhythm of the seasons, and it is the perfect time to go out to spot one.  If you are lucky enough to see a red squirrel, you can help contribute to their conservation. Between 30th Sept - 6th Oct Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is encouraging as many people as possible to submit their squirrel sightings as part of our annual citizen science campaign, the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey. Participating in the survey is simple and rewarding - you go outside, spot a squirrel (red or grey), and record your sighting - helping to collect valuable information that will inform future conservation action. Find out more about the survey at scottishsquirrels.org.uk/2024-great-scottish-squirrel-survey/ But for now, let’s get into notable red squirrel behaviours to look out for this autumn! Natural Foragers Red squirrels will be active over the next few months as they prepare for the colder months ahead. Autumn is when their natural food sources are most available, such as seeds and nuts from trees including pine, beech, hazel and oak - a feast for the red squirrel! As such reds will likely be easier to spot as they forage on the forest floor for mushrooms, acorns, seeds, fruits, and other ...

The award-winning environmental charity Trees for Life stands at the forefront of rewilding in the Scottish Highlands, and for over 30 years has been working to nurture and expand ancient woodland fragments and reintroduce missing animals. Red squirrels are an iconic Scottish species and a key resident of the Caledonian forest, but habitat loss from deforestation, human persecution, and competition and disease from grey squirrels are putting immense strain on populations of reds. The Scottish Highlands is the largest remaining stronghold for red squirrels in the UK, free from grey squirrels, and home to around 75% of Scotland’s total red squirrel populations. We hear from Trees for Life on how they are working to expand the distributions of red squirrels in the Highlands, and how you can help in these endeavours. Supporting reds Red squirrel conservation in Scotland currently involves both managing greys and creating new populations of reds. It is vital that grey squirrel populations are monitored and managed to ensure they don’t spread the life-threatening squirrel pox disease and encroach further north. Luckily, there are currently no resident grey squirrels in the Highlands thanks to longstanding SSRS and partner efforts. Large areas of open ground in some areas also help to limit the risks of grey expansion into the reds’ core range. Populations of red squirrels have traditionally been confined to the central and eastern Highlands. Thanks to the Red Squi ...

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is calling on the public to get outside, explore nature, and take part in its annual nationwide Great Scottish Squirrel Survey next week. In a year with red and grey squirrels appearing in unexpected places, and the first death in Fife of a red squirrel due to squirrelpox, public sightings of both species are more important than ever. Running between 30th Sep – 6th Oct, the annual citizen science nature survey is a chance for members of the public to make a valuable contribution towards vital red squirrel conservation. Red squirrels are one of Scotland’s most loved animals, and our only native squirrel species. Once widespread throughout the country, in recent decades red squirrel populations have declined due to their replacement by introduced grey squirrels who outcompete them for food and habitat and spread the deadly squirrelpox virus. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is working with local communities, landowners, partner organisations and volunteers to protect red squirrels in key priority areas where they are most under threat from greys. Programme Manager Nicole Still said: “Red and grey squirrels have turned up in some very unusual places in 2024 - from reds in urban areas such as Bishopbriggs, the first in Glasgow in many decades - to greys further north than we would normally expect. Alongside this we had our first confirmed death in the Central Lo ...

Summer is a wonderful time to appreciate Scotland’s charismatic red squirrels! From summer coats, to unusual foods, to well-deserved afternoon siestas. Read on below for our guide to their behaviours during this (sometimes!) sunny season for you to observe and enjoy! Perthshire Summer Red (c) Raymond Leinster Ear Tufts & Summer Coats The fur of red squirrels can vary from almost black to chestnut or light brown on the back, and from white to cream on their chest and stomach. A red squirrel will moult twice a year - with fur being replaced in spring and autumn - essential for keeping them cool or warm with the seasonal change. As a result, their coats will look much thinner in summer than they do in the winter. Also, during the summer season, for most reds, their distinctive pointy ear tufts thin out and are almost completely gone! So, if you’ve spotted a red squirrel in recent weeks, the chances are their easy-to-identify tufts will not be there – however never fear, they will return in the autumn! Summer Delicacies Red squirrels are omnivores and have surprisingly varied eating habits! Whilst the autumn tree harvests of nuts and seeds make up most of their diet later in the year, and shoots, tree flowers and buds supplement this in the spring, in the summer months – due to the lack of availability of these normally favourite foods – red squirrels may have to ‘branch out’ and try other delicacies! Tree bark, occasional songbird eggs, and insects ar ...

  Spring is an exciting time for our beloved red squirrels! From playful courtships in the trees to adorable new-born kits taking their first steps in the world, these furry creatures are busy as bees during the season of transformation. Want to know more about the behaviour of red squirrels in spring? Here's a guide to everything you need to know! Red Squirrel Spring Moult (c) Ian Skinner Coat Changes During the spring months red squirrels gradually shed their thicker winter coats, along with their endearing distinctive ear tufts. In recent years it has been observed that some reds are shedding their winter coats before the cooler shorter summer one grows in, resulting in some not-so-stylish bald patches April-June time! Never fear, if you see such a balding squirrel in your garden and it is eating and moving normally it is most likely healthy – just waiting for the summer outfit to grow in! Reproduction Spring marks the beginning of the breeding season, with squirrels already out and about as early as January and into the spring to engage in ‘mating chases’, where multiple males chase fertile females (only fertile for one day during their cycle) across the ground, around tree trunks, and through branches. It can be noisy, so keep your ears tuned for sounds of scrabbling claws, as well as chirping and calling! Nesting The exterior of breeding dreys resembles an untidy ball of sticks, however the interior boasts a soft lining of mosses, leaves and g ...

  In April, the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies confirmed the first death of a red squirrel from the squirrelpox virus north of Scotland’s Central Belt, having conducted tests on a dead squirrel found near Dunfermline in Fife. Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels which, whilst not affecting them, can be lethal when passed to native red squirrels. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of which can prevent reds from eating, drinking or moving. As a result, squirrelpox is usually fatal within two weeks and an outbreak can cause local populations to crash. The first known outbreak of squirrelpox in Scotland occurred in 2007 near Lockerbie and since then the disease has arisen in various red squirrel populations across south Scotland. However, this was the first time that a case has been confirmed north of Scotland’s Central Belt and it's arrival poses a major threat to Scotland’s more northerly red squirrels. Fortunately, no further cases have been detected north of the central belt in the last month. However, we are asking Fife residents to remain vigilant and to do the following: Report all sightings of both grey and red squirrels: scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/  Clean wildlife feeders regularly with an anti-viral disinfectant such as Virkon S: https://bit.ly/3tOHr9X  Send any dead red squirrel carcasses found for post-mortem: https ...

  The first identified death of a red squirrel from squirrelpox virus north of Scotland’s Central Belt has been confirmed on the outskirts of Dunfermline, Fife. This news could have serious consequences for the area’s red squirrel populations, and people living in the region are urged to remain vigilant. The case was confirmed via post-mortem examination of a red squirrel by the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, after the squirrel was posted in by a member of the public who found it whilst walking in woodlands on the northern outskirts of Dunfermline last month. This red squirrel had ulcers and scabs around the eyes and mouth, both of which were confirmed as pox virus using microscopic examination at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and electron microscopy at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge. Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels which does not affect them but can be rapidly lethal when passed to red squirrels. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of which can prevent reds from eating, drinking or moving. As a result, it is usually fatal within two weeks and an outbreak can cause local populations to crash. Liam Wilson, from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies said: “This is a worrying development for red squirrels in Scotland, as this case north of the Central Belt may be the prelude to squirrelpox expansion both locally ...

  What would the full recovery of Scotland’s red squirrel population look like? This is the question being tackled by the Scottish Squirrel Group, a multi-disciplinary group convened by NatureScot and made up of key Government agencies, land owners and managers, volunteer groups, researchers and academics, and environmental NGOs in order to revise the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation 2015-2025.   Robyn Stewart, Species and Habitats Officer & Red Squirrel Species Lead at RSPB Scotland, tells us more:   The current Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation has been primarily delivered through the partnership project Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels – initially though its Developing Community Action phase (2017 – 2022) and more recently in its Transition phase (2022-2024). With Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) now moving into a new phase, the project is being restructured and partners are working on developing more sustainable, long-term solutions to deliver key actions for red squirrel conservation. The revision of the current Scottish Strategy is a hugely important step in steering effective conservation action for red squirrel over the coming years, and the Scottish Squirrel Group have been tasked with drafting an ambitious 50-year vision for red squirrel conservation in Scotland. The revised Strategy will cover a 10-year timeline (2025 – 2035) informed by this vision, and will be developed using the Internatio ...

  Since 2017 SSRS has helped establish 17 dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer Local Network Groups across the south of Scotland, providing them with training and support to control grey squirrels and monitor, promote and protect red squirrels where they live.   As our latest 2022-24 SSRS Transition Phase comes to an end, all volunteer groups in the south of Scotland will now be classified as fully independent, although SSRS can continue to support efforts via our Community Hub, social media pages, and some necessary professional grey squirrel control in key areas. Below is a list of FAQs for independent red squirrel networks operating in South Scotland that we will update when further resources and information becomes available. Please refer to this page in the first instance, but if you have a question that is not covered here you can or email the project at squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Last updated: 21st March 2024   Is there any funding for SSRS staff support in the south of Scotland after 31st March 2024? Yes. Limited funding from SSRS partners has been secured to enable continued SSRS grey squirrel control in some priority areas in the south of Scotland for at least the next six months, with the Scottish Wildlife Trust continuing to lead and employ staff. Priority areas to be covered are: Annan Valley PARC Nith Valley PARC Solway Forests PARC Tweeddale PARC and northern parts of the Teviot & Rule PA ...

Over £1m in new funding has been announced to aid red squirrel conservation efforts in key areas across Scotland for the next two years. A total grant of £1,052,796 has been awarded by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot, which supports the restoration of wildlife and habitats across the country. The new funds will support the Scottish Wildlife Trust led Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) project to deliver vital conservation work on the ground and develop new and innovative techniques to halt red squirrel declines, reinforce protections for the core red only populations of the Highlands, and progress long-term aims for population expansion in the North East and Central Lowlands of Scotland. SSRS has been working since 2009 to protect Scotland’s iconic red squirrels, whose populations are under threat from the spread of the invasive non-native grey squirrel. Greys outcompete red squirrels for food and living space and can carry the squirrelpox virus which does not harm them but is deadly to reds. Greys were first introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians and have since displaced red squirrels in most of England and Wales, with more than 75% of the UK’s total remaining population residing in Scotland today. Over the next two years the new funding will enable the creation of new community focused rapid response monitoring and control networks across the northern Central Lowlands, made possible by increa ...