Q&A with Sarah Woodfin, Project Manager with Trees for Life’s Red Squirrel Reintroduction Project

in ecology and a masters in conservation biology and most of my work and interests have been with small mammal ecology and conservation. I have worked with a range of animals, from native mice and voles to species of rabbit found in south-east Asia. I began working with red squirrels in 2019 as a monitoring and control officer for the… […]

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Community Hub FAQs

…Admin can advise, or if in doubt please contact us at squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Can I set up a joint account on Hub e.g. Mr & Mrs Brown? We advise that you each have you own individual account on Hub, you may have different volunteer roles and we need to sign you up and ensure you are covered under the Trust’s insurance… […]

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Celebrating a red squirrel champion

…Alert North-East campaign coordinated by Northumberland Wildlife Trust. Coincidentally I was also involved for many years in running a voluntary international network, the IUCN Specialist Group for Pheasants and other gamebirds (around 300 species worldwide, of which 25% are on the Red List and threatened with extinction). As a university academic, I loved to hate committees, but I got plenty… […]

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

…the situation with both red and grey squirrels is changing. The Great Scottish Squirrel Survey allows us to compare data between years which is really helpful in understanding the impact our efforts are having over time and where more help is needed.” “Acting as a squirrel spotter while you are out and about and reporting a squirrel sighting is simple… […]

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Welcoming volunteers back into the field this Volunteers’ Week

…Assessment followed. Volunteers can now undertake operational survey work, which was previously suspended All face to face training activities can now recommence, including trail camera and operational survey training for volunteers In-person Volunteer Network Group meetings can now commence, adhering to Government guidelines on meeting others indoors or outdoors Leaflet drops are now permitted for volunteers As highlighted in our… […]

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North East Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating our volunteer Janice Drew as she moves on to pastures new!

…SSRS. It has been rewarding in so many ways and a privilege to be part of the well organised and dedicated squirrel squad here in the north east.”   If you are interested in assisting in red squirrel conservation activities in your local area, there are lots of ways to get involved!   Join a volunteer Red Squirrel Group: There… […]

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About Us

…they are both native Scottish species with important roles in the woodland ecosystem, and it seems the two species can thrive together in the right conditions. However, pine martens are still recovering from years of persecution in Scotland and it may take a long time before they can make a real difference in the effort to save Scotland’s red squirrels…. […]

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Squirrelpox: Staying ahead of the spread

…red and grey squirrels in the event of a disease outbreak. We recommend an anti-viral solution such as Virkon-S. Squirrel sightings also have an important role to play in monitoring distribution changes over time and assessing areas where both red and grey squirrels come into close proximity. Sightings of both species can be reported through our website at https://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/. And… […]

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News: Suspected squirrelpox outbreak near Lockerbie threatens local red squirrel population

…vulnerable time for red squirrels, as they prepare for the upcoming mating season and increase contact with one another. We have deployed our emergency squirrelpox outbreak response measures, and as such locals can expect to see an increased staff and volunteer presence in the area as we increase grey control efforts in the region in a bid to stem the… […]

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Studying the life of the urban red squirrel

…nature in our towns and cities, particularly as urban growth and intensification increases. Although red squirrels have successfully adapted to live alongside us in urban areas, they still need access to native seed-bearing trees (instead of ornamental species often found in gardens) for high quality food sources and for building dreys, habitat corridors for movement, and protection from road traffic…. […]

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This Year's Sightings