News: Report details red squirrel conservation successes, with key recommendations for the iconic species’ long-term future in Scotland.

…in range and density partially due to over 70 homes hosting grey squirrel traps in their gardens. Additionally, the wider Scottish public contributed via the annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, with an average of over 1800 squirrel sightings reported between 2019 and 2021. With only a year left in the current two-year Transition Phase of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, the… […]

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All things invasive with the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

…produces 20-30,000 seeds per flower head They are successful dispersers e.g. Himalayan balsam has exploding seed pods that spread its seed several metres, and a female mink can travel 80km in search of a breeding territory In addition, invasive plants often readily thrive on disturbed soils and making them very opportunistic and able to rapidly colonise a new area. They… […]

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Community Hub FAQs

…will accept your request and/or be in touch to discuss. If applicable they will also send you an invite to join the private survey and grey control groups Note: if your local group is not currently operating independently from SSRS, you may still be required to join the SSRS volunteering group and enter your details as prompted. Your group’s Hub… […]

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A lucky escape!

…would be reported, simply out of interest. There can’t be that much overlap between the strictly diurnal (active in daylight) red squirrel and the generally nocturnal tawny owl. Perhaps this owl was feeding young and was desperate for food! Anyway, the red squirrel lived to fight another day which is good, and we wish that feisty tawny owl well too!… […]

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Building a Volunteer Network

…I was able to initiate things very easily by making the Gatehouse Squirrel Group a project under a pre-existing local charity/company with an environmental slant (Gatehouse Development Initiative). I simply presented the GDI committee with a one-page constitution and that was that. This meant I had a Treasurer and a bank account from day one. ” There are two structures… […]

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Black and white or shades of grey?

…of which are very likely to have evolved from the dominant red squirrel). The red squirrel is thought to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge approximately seven million years ago. In North America, the eastern grey squirrel had to constantly adapt and evolve in order to compete with many rival squirrel species, whereas the Eurasian red squirrel evolved with no… […]

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Squirrel Sightings: an inside look

…a grid reference, however if you are unable to supply this you can drop a pin on the map and a grid reference will be generated. If you have any additional comments on behaviour or location these can be really helpful, especially if you live in a squirrelpox hotspot (the south of Scotland) and think a red squirrel looks poorly…. […]

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News: First death of red squirrel from squirrelpox virus confirmed north of Scotland’s Central Belt

…examination at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and electron microscopy at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge. Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels which does not affect them but can be rapidly lethal when passed to red squirrels. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of which can… […]

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This Year's Sightings