…most relevant to red squirrel conservation and the work of SSRS: Question 2a: Have we captured the key actions needed to deliver the objective: accelerate restoration and regeneration? Question 2g: Have we captured the key actions needed to deliver the objective: embed nature positive farming, fishing and forestry? Question 2j: Have we captured the key actions needed to deliver the… […]
…working to prevent invasive non-native grey squirrels from replacing native reds north of the Highland Line. The work is essential to helping us achieve our goals, providing a much-needed dispatcher service for volunteers on our trap loan scheme. We are looking for people who are living locally, enthusiastic about protecting red squirrels, with training or experience in humane animal dispatch…. […]
…floor, conifer plantations with bountiful cone bearing spruce and mixed woodland where Scot’s Pine tower over young beech trees. At each stop I also keep a look out for any movement in the trees, feeding signs and possible dreys. When standing at one point on a transect I heard the tip tap of what first sounded like rain, but on… […]
…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… […]
…commercial conifers – to red squirrels. The researchers, together with Ulster Wildlife, bring into question red squirrel conservation strategies that focus on the planting of such forests. Scotland’s conifer forests In Scotland, non-native conifer forests are planted for commercial purposes. By the 1930s red squirrel populations were in serious decline in the UK, but the extensive conifer planting that… […]
The grey squirrel is one of the country’s most widely recognised animals, but not everyone knows that it is a non-native species. As 23 – 29 March is ‘Invasive Species Week’, we reflect on the progress that’s been made in managing and preventing the negative impact of grey squirrels on their native counterparts in Scotland. Invasive Species Week is… […]
…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 Trossachs and Stirling said: “In the Central Lowlands, red squirrels are holding their ground and as a result we’ve started to… […]
…across the country, reporting an incredible 1549 sightings in just one week. We were particularly keen to see this year’s results due to the impact Covid-19 has had on our annual Spring Survey, which has been cancelled for the past two years. More detailed analysis is ongoing, but the overall distribution of red and grey squirrels across the… […]
…and in the catchments of the rivers Teviot, Rule and Liddle. Survey hair sample collection © Cameron Singh-Johnstone The most positive survey results were found in North East Scotland, where red squirrels continue to expand their range, particularly around Aberdeen. Project staff are optimistic that with continued effort grey squirrels can eventually be completely removed from the region,… […]
…we’ll continue to reduce the number and spread of grey squirrels in Aberdeen and the surrounding area; and commission scientific advice detailing the approximate timeline and milestones towards eradication. We expect that as grey squirrel numbers continue to fall, the control team will develop a “rapid response” strategy – detecting and removing any remaining grey squirrels until eradication can be… […]
