An Autumn Overview of Tree ID

…of habitat the squirrel was spotted in. Having a basic knowledge of tree identification comes in helpful here and sharing this allows us to investigate which habitats squirrels appear to be thriving in. Spotting the difference between a coniferous and deciduous tree in autumn is simple. Deciduous trees with broad leaves, change colour and often lose their leaves at this… […]

Read More…

New Frontiers for Volunteers

…New Mexico, I’ve come home to see what I can do here in Scotland to help our native wildlife survive against threats of foreign diseases and invasive species. In Sweden I studied conservation biology and became especially interested in disease ecology, invasive species and wildlife management. I then moved from Sweden to a field station in New Mexico to work… […]

Read More…

To feed or not to feed?

…some hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, cherry, raspberry, crab apple and yew. All small-seeded broadleafed trees will provide buds and flowers in spring for squirrels as well as giving a home to lots of other wildlife and insects. If you have squirrels visiting your bird feeders, it is vitally important to regularly clean and disinfect them. This is especially important if you… […]

Read More…

Terms of Service

…provokes other community members, or is inappropriate, repetitive or off topic compromises your privacy or that of other contributors or that contain inappropriate personal information compromises sensitive data or confidential information You should be aware that your contributions may remain online indefinitely. 1.5 Disclaimer The SSRS website and its Content is intended to provide information for general and scientific use;… […]

Read More…

How can mathematical modelling help save red squirrels in Scotland?

…greys from a stronghold increases as the habitat quality in the woodland within and surrounding the stronghold improves. Model predictions indicating the percentage chance of ‘seropositive’ (squirreplox carrying) greys squirrels in Scotland that would occur without grey squirrel control. Today the threat of squirrelpox outbreaks is still restricted to the south.     Managing squirrelpox in South Scotland For the… […]

Read More…

A red squirrel first for Luss Estate

  After years of carefully targeted grey squirrel control, we were excited to hear that a red squirrel has been spotted in Luss. It’s a sign that our native reds are beginning to make a comeback on Loch Lomond’s western shores. Luss Estate is a nationally important area for red squirrel conservation because it sits on the Highland Boundary Fault… […]

Read More…

Call for Scots to become a nation of squirrel spotters this Red Squirrel Week

where dedicated squirrel spotters can register and keep a personal record of their squirrel sightings. “The comprehensive mapping allows them to view their own squirrel conservation data as well as all of the project’s long-term data. It’s a great way for people to see how their efforts are contributing to changes over time. “It’s also a meeting point where volunteers… […]

Read More…

SSRS Knowledge Fair

SSRS Knowledge Fair: celebrating five years of developing community action   3-4 December 2021 As our ‘Developing Community Action’ phase comes to an end we will be celebrating all the project has achieved alongside our partners, volunteers, landowners and supporters. This virtual Knowledge Fair will also provide an opportunity to learn more about red squirrel conservation work happening across Scotland… […]

Read More…

New Conservation Officer calls for the public to help protect red squirrels in the Scottish Borders

…Reserve said: “We have a real opportunity to turn the tide and help conserve our red squirrels, but this is only possible with everyone’s involvement. There is a big task ahead of us and I am looking forward to working alongside the rest of the team in helping the red squirrel thrive in the Scottish Borders.” SSRS is a partnership… […]

Read More…

North East towns at the forefront of efforts to save Scotland’s red squirrels

…The grey squirrel is an invasive species that was introduced to Britain from North America. They out-compete red squirrels for food and living space and some also carry squirrelpox, a virus that doesn’t harm grey squirrels but is deadly to reds. Grey squirrels were first introduced to Aberdeen in the 1970s, rapidly spreading throughout the city and into surrounding Aberdeenshire,… […]

Read More…

This Year's Sightings