Beechmast and acorns everywhere

…understood by academics and naturalists, there is an unusual abundance of seed, fruits and nuts on our trees. So much so that it would be impossible for creatures to consume the entire crop. This autumn with trees bowing under the weight of their own produce, red squirrels will be benefiting. Is there plenty of food on the trees in your… […]

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Suspected Squirrelpox outbreak near Dumfries threatens local red squirrel population

The support has been amazing, and with some family members we’ve done everything we can to get the word out by putting posters throughout the forest. The community would be devastated to lose these animals as we all love to spot them on our daily walks.” People can support the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project by reporting their sightings of… […]

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Reports of suspected squirrelpox near Cardrona

…risk of spreading disease. If sick red squirrels are present in an area, they can transmit the disease to other red squirrels via feeding stations. Squirrelpox causes red squirrels to develop wet pus-filled lesions on their faces, particularly around the eyes, nose and mouth, as well as on their paws and genitalia. They become unwell and the lesions make it… […]

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

…Conservation Officer for Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels said: “With support of local volunteers from the Solway Forests Red Squirrel Network, we have deployed emergency squirrelpox outbreak response measures. Grey squirrels are being removed from the area through live trapping and humane dispatch. We know that when grey squirrel numbers are kept low, red squirrel populations can recover following the devastation… […]

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Community action in Galloway

…can never be overlooked. The old-fashioned methods are all we’ve got until the magic bullet arrives— most likely in the form of a magic (albeit very expensive) molecule to effectively sterilise greys. Meanwhile there is definite evidence of pine martens in our area, so hopefully they will help us out a bit too. Peter AKA ‘Sandy the Squirrel’, inspiring the […]

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Award for a Red Squirrel Champion

the plight of the red squirrel by running educational events for families and children. They work in conjunction with the Barhill Community Woodland Project; a community initiative under the umbrella of the Kirkcudbright Development Trust, to improve the woodland for both people and wildlife. Rob was presented with his award by Scottish Wildlife Trust Chair Dr Linda Rosborough   Rob… […]

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Help the Solway Forests with your best red squirrel snaps

…camera. However, a quick scroll down the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Facebook feed demonstrates that many of our followers have had great success. The Solway Forests Red Squirrel Network is inviting amateur photographers to enter their 2019 photography competition. All funds raised will go towards the group’s red squirrel conservation activities, from grey squirrel control work to community engagement. They… […]

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This Year's Sightings