Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is calling on the public to take part in the nationwide Great Scottish Squirrel Survey between 20-26 September (National Red Squirrel Week). Now in its third year, the survey is needed more than ever due to the impact of Covid-19. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which… […]
…on a record-breaking turnout in 2020, last year’s 2021 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey saw 1549 squirrel sightings reported in just one week by nearly 1100 people across Scotland. Sightings help project staff to create a picture of the situation on the ground, and directly contribute to red squirrel conservation action. Since the end of the project’s spring surveys in 2020,… […]
…Let’s make this year’s survey even greater! Report your sighting Kids worksheet Find out more Why do we need this data? SSRS has been collecting public squirrel sightings since 2010, last year we received a massive 10,484 sightings with the help of the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, giving us our third highest recording year to date. The data… […]
Original Author: Steve Willis Sometimes trail cameras pick up some pretty unusual animal behaviour… The SSRS team use trail cameras for much of our survey work. As these amazing devices have come down in price their popularity has risen and risen. And for good reason too – they are unobtrusive ways to observe your local wildlife. Even setting… […]
…December volunteer announcement, grey squirrel control volunteers can continue their work in the field We ask those looking to return to volunteering, to be proactive in monitoring changing Covid-19 guidelines in your local authority area, by regularly visiting https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/. Prior to commencing any new activities, a Covid-19 Risk Assessment will need to be reviewed. This can be accessed through… […]
…activity you see. With the first litter being weaned, females become fertile again and the month of May is a great time to see mating chases for second broods. Squirrels breed promiscuously, with several males chasing a female in heat. Often it is the dominant male that wins the race but 30% of mating does involve younger satellite males. Genetic… […]
…the squirrels can sometimes spend a lot of time munching on their free food if nothing disturbs them. In fact, in one instance, it seemed like a red squirrel had a wee after-lunch nap on the box platform! Even with this method we tend to get hundreds of photos, sometimes thousands! I personally love conducting camera trapping; you never know… […]
…they have to stay active all year round and keep on feeding! Squirrelling away food… All through late summer and autumn squirrels frantically scatter-horde food all over the woods. They will move from food supply to food supply and eat what they can, and bury the rest. They have a great memory for finding their caches and will use them… […]
