All things invasive with the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

…staggering 94% decline in native water vole populations? The American skunk-cabbage plant does actually smell as bad as a skunk….   White butterburr was imported as a garden ornamental from mainland Europe and SW Asia and escaped into the wild.   What is an Invasive Species? There are around 2,000 non-native plants and animals in the UK, these non-native species… […]

Read More…

A lucky escape!

…to see this- watch it right to the end! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZXZfnzXA4E This footage was caught just after 6am in early May. It clearly shows a tawny owl swoop in and land on the tree just above where the squirrel was. Amazing! Now what we don’t know is what the tawny owl was up to. It may well have been sizing up… […]

Read More…

Great Scottish Squirrel Survey

…busily gather food, preparing themselves for the colder months ahead. By taking part you’ll be doing a small act to help protect one of Scotland’s most iconic yet threatened species, while joining in a mass citizen science event. When will we find out the results? Each sighting we receive is verified by a member of our team before being added… […]

Read More…

News: Get squirrel spotting during the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey next week!

…project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which is working in priority areas across Scotland to protect red squirrels from the spread of the non-native grey squirrel. This year, project partners are encouraging everyone in Scotland to go out and get squirrel spotting during Red Squirrel Awareness Week, and to add their sightings to the online map at scottishsquirrels.org.uk. Victoria… […]

Read More…

News: The Great Scottish Squirrel Survey returns in an important year for squirrel sightings

…is working in priority areas across Scotland to protect red squirrels from the spread of the non-native grey squirrel. Gill Hatcher, SSRS Communications & Engagement Officer said: “We are asking everyone in Scotland to go out and enjoy the outdoors during Red Squirrel Week, look out for both red and grey squirrels and add your sightings to our online map… […]

Read More…

News: Get involved in Scotland’s fifth annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is calling on people in Scotland to take part in the fifth nationwide Great Scottish Squirrel Survey between 2-8 October (National Red Squirrel Week). Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, working in priority areas to protect red squirrels from the spread of the invasive non-native grey squirrel…. […]

Read More…

Game-changing grant awarded to South Scotland volunteers

…sustain their surveying and monitoring efforts well into the future.   Find out more about the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, the Red Squirrel Forum for South Scotland and what this grant means for conservation within the area at https://www.rsst.org.uk/blog/2020/9/16/scottish-borders-groups-bank-national-funding . Or visit the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Network Directory to find out more about red squirrel volunteer groups near you…. […]

Read More…

Spotting the elusive Scottish Red Squirrel

…head north to the coniferous forests of the Highlands where the reds still have a stronghold. You don’t actually need to go very far north, just enough to get away from the cities full of people and grey squirrels. Use our squirrel sightings map to see where you’re most likely to see red squirrels near you – https://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/. You don’t… […]

Read More…

This Year's Sightings