Building a Volunteer Network

online guide . I f you live in one of ou r South Scotland priority areas and would like to get involved with an existing red squirrel group, please visit our Network Directory to find one near you.   Giuliana Sinclair Community Engagement Officer Area covered: South West Scotland gsinclair@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Sarah Cooper Community Engagement Officer Area covered: Scottish Borders scooper@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk… […]

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Activities

…what you find! Click the link below for the scavenger hunt checklist: DOWNLOAD Try our word search We’ve hidden away 10 squirrel related words, can you find them? Click the links below for the word search puzzle: DOWNLOAD ANSWERS Fill in the blanks Can you help us tell the story of Scotland’s red squirrel by filling in the blanks? Click… […]

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All things invasive with the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

…are species that have been transported here from their native range with the assistance of humans (either deliberately or accidently). Of these only 10-15% go on to cause problems, having a negative impact on our environment, our economy or our way of life – these are termed as invasive non-native species.   Why are invasives problematic? Invasive species are problematic… […]

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One small step for Perthshire’s reds

…efforts to remove the threat.   It has been observed throughout the UK that when grey squirrels move into an area, the local red squirrel population is gradually replaced due to competition for resources such as food and living space. Although grey squirrels occur in Dunkeld, this is generally the northern limit of their range in Perthshire. Sightings of greys… […]

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Black and white or shades of grey?

…species which they endanger. It’s not hatred; it’s ecology. Paul McDonald is the Project Officer for Argyll, the Trossachs and Stirling, having joined Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels in 2014. Paul has been involved in conservation for over 10 years, much of that time spent in remote areas of Scotland and Canada. Click here for more information on our project team…. […]

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News: Perthshire residents on red alert after grey squirrel sightings in Aberfeldy

Officer, Ann-Marie MacMaster, warned: “We have received large numbers of reports of both species of squirrel this spring and summer, suggesting that both species have benefited from the bumper seed crop of autumn 2019, followed by a very mild winter. This boost could mean that grey squirrels are at an advantage and have dispersed further than they would have in… […]

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Studying the life of the urban red squirrel

…the global population are predicted to be living in urban areas by 2050, altering the natural environment and presenting new challenges for our wildlife species. Historically, urban areas have been ignored as suitable wildlife habitats. However, there is increasing evidence that these environments can have plentiful resources and support a wide range of biodiversity, so there has been a growing… […]

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Squirrelpox: Staying ahead of the spread

…been taking blood samples from grey squirrels which are then tested for the presence of squirrelpox antibodies. A very small number of grey squirrels have tested positive for squirrelpox antibodies between 2013 and 2020 in the Central Lowlands, the most northerly of which was at Plean, near Bannockburn. It is unclear how the disease arrived here, as we have detected… […]

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Speaking up for Red Squirrels in the Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity

…can move and adapt. 30 by 30 – the plan to increase the area of land that is protected or managed for nature to 30% by 2030. Nature Targets – the plan to set legal targets for nature that the government has to meet. National Parks – the plan to designate at least one new National Park in Scotland by… […]

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This Year's Sightings