Building a Volunteer Network

…at their nearby visitor centre, and ask for a donation to the Gatehouse Squirrel Group in return. The level of giving (ca. £200 pa) appears likely to be sufficient for our current needs, but if grey control had to be conducted on a more industrial scale, substantial additional funds would be required, especially for mileage. ” Glenkens Red Squirrel Group… […]

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Suspected Squirrelpox outbreak near Dumfries threatens local red squirrel population

…sick red squirrel is advised not to approach it, but instead contact the project for advice. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and made possible thanks to National Lottery players and the Dumfries & Galloway LEADER 2014 – 2020 programme. For further information please contact Gill Hatcher, ghatcher@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk, 0131 3124717, 07388 994610…. […]

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Beechmast and acorns everywhere

…ability to cache food for lean periods which means that even if there is a cold snap towards spring, the supplies put by this autumn will be enough to cover shortfalls during the breeding season. Conversely, of course, a mast year is ominously good news for the health and reproduction of greys, and will be a boost to their populations… […]

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Suspected squirrelpox cases on the Solway Coast

…up by a description of any unusual behaviour. There is no evidence that squirrelpox can cause any harm to humans, however sensible precautions should be undertaken when approaching any dead or sick wild animal. Please also continue to follow government guidelines regarding access to green spaces at this time. People across Scotland can continue to support the Saving Scotland’s Red… […]

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Spotting squirrelpox: new sightings across Dumfries and Galloway

…is advised not to approach it, but instead contact the project for advice as soon as possible . Dead reds can be sent for post-mortem but ne ed to be handled carefully – please read the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels post-morten guide for more information at https://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Red-squirrel-post-morte ms.pdf . To find out more about the squirrelpox virus, please visit the… […]

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Coronavirus update for SSRS volunteers

…your group during this period, each group page on the Community Hub includes a forum that can be used to post questions and discussion topics. There are also several training resources available on our website, including spring survey and Hub training videos.   An important note about Virkon-S Virkon-S is a broad-spectrum disinfectant that is issued to volunteers for the… […]

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News: Squirrelpox threatens red squirrels across Dumfries & Galloway’s Solway coast

…that spans from Palnackie to Carsethorn. With the outbreak ongoing and continuing to spread, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is calling on people to remove any wildlife feeding equipment and report squirrel sightings to the project. Squirrelpox is a virus that is carried by grey squirrels without them being affected. Native red squirrels do not typically have immunity. Symptoms include lesions… […]

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News: Perthshire residents on red alert after grey squirrel sightings in Aberfeldy

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… […]

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New PARC boundaries ensure conservation efforts stay one step ahead

…by the presence of greys). By targeting efforts to the grey squirrels’ preferred woodland, we can create reservoirs of high quality habitat for red squirrels to reoccupy. This creates breeding populations of the native species as a source for recolonising conifer forests, should the populations there chance to come under pressure owing to seed-crop failure. In better conifer-seed years, red… […]

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This Year's Sightings