The grey squirrel is one of the country’s most widely recognised animals, but not everyone knows that it is a non-native species. As 23 – 29 March is ‘Invasive Species Week’, we reflect on the progress that’s been made in managing and preventing the negative impact of grey squirrels on their native counterparts in Scotland. Invasive Species Week is… […]
…similar scenario, only in this case it is a recovering native predator having a detrimental impact on an invasive prey, which colonised the region while the native predator was absent. Clearly with the recovery of the native predator, the advantage has shifted in favour of the native prey species. It is really encouraging news both locally and in a global… […]
…your hand. It’s a chance to make a more personal connection with an animal we often only get a fleeting glimpse of high in the trees, or watch from the safe distance of a hide or a kitchen window. Of course, if you come across a cache of cones, try not to disturb it too much as its owner might… […]
…would make anyone think they were grey dominated areas. It is true that small numbers of grey squirrels are moving into these areas and it’s fantastic that local people understand how important it is that we know about these sightings, but reporting red squirrel sightings is equally important. It helps us monitor the impact our work is having, and know… […]
Original Author: Forestry Commission Scotland Recent feeder box monitoring and camera trapping carried out in Countesswells and Foggieton Woods, near Aberdeen, indicates a rosy future for red squirrels. Source: Forestry Commission Scotland Recent feeder box monitoring and camera trapping carried out in Countesswells and Foggieton Woods, near Aberdeen, indicates a rosy future for red squirrels. The work by Forest… […]
…fantastic range of foods- everything a developing animal needs. So now we prepare to say goodbye to this little fellow. We shall take him to the SSPCA on Tuesday where he will be put into an indoor aviary and introduced to another squirrel of about his age, then he will be moved to a large outdoor aviary in a quiet… […]
…us a good indication of whether that tetrad contains red squirrels, grey squirrels, both species, or no squirrels. Of course, in one year a feeder box may not be visited by every species in the area, but when compared over the course of many years, this landscape-scale approach to monitoring can provide a strong indication of how both species are… […]
…‘I’ve been guerrilla knitting for quite a few years now along with running the Deeside Knitwits community knitting group. Each year we make a knitted installation to help raise awareness and funds for local charities. We started off showing our knitted nonsense at Voluntary Services Aberdeen’s Easter Anguston Farm in Peterculter. Our projects included a 20 metre long snake,… […]
Original Author: Steve Willis, Project Officer Northeast Scotland Red squirrels moulting into their summer coat can look a bit alarming at times- learn more about the moult and what to do if you are concerned by a squirrel with patchy fur. Spring has sprung! Birds are singing, flowers blooming, and squirrel moulting! At this time of year we get… […]
