…any harm to humans, however sensible precautions should be undertaken when approaching any dead or sick wild animal. Please also continue to follow government guidelines regarding access to green spaces at this time. People across Scotland can continue to support the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project during this time by reporting their sightings of both red and grey squirrels online…. […]
…can then report where and when they saw them on the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels website, scottishsquirrels.org.uk Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust that is working to protect red squirrels where they are most under threat from the spread of non-native grey squirrels. Squirrel sightings received from members of the public help… […]
Bob Peace from the Glenkens Red Squirrel Group shares his inspiration for getting involved in red squirrel conservation and explains how the volunteer group has gone from strength to strength in recent times. As a young boy growing up in West Yorkshire in the 1950s, red squirrels were a common sight and grey squirrels were just pictures in… […]
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has published the results of this year’s Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, when over 600 people reported 828 sightings in just one week. The results will enhance conservationists’ understanding of squirrel populations across Scotland. The campaign, which ran from 23 – 29 September, encouraged the Scottish public to spend some time exploring the outdoors while keeping… […]
…squirrel not a grey squirrel? A. When it’s a red squirrel in it’s winter coat! In certain lights this can cause confusion. Photo: S Willis A grey squirrel. As in a proper ‘grey squirrel’. Note the ‘halo’ around it’s tail. Photo: Scottish Natural Heritage Did someone say ‘ear tufts’? Of course! We forgot the ear tufts! As the red squirrel’s… […]
…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… […]
…trapping may be squirrels, we also get plenty of birds, which is great as it keeps me on my toes with bird ID! Jays and great spotted woodpeckers are definitely the most common bird species detected on our cameras and they’re surprisingly expressive. Apart from these two species, I’ve recorded at least (carrion) crows, blue-, cole-, and great tits, wrens,… […]
…2021 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey results map looks highly positive, reflecting the project’s continued progress towards achieving its aims in priority areas: Removal of grey squirrels from Aberdeen and the surrounding countryside, allowing reds to return to the city Protecting the ‘Highland Line’ – preventing grey squirrels from spreading further north towards Scotland’s core red squirrel populations in Grampian and… […]
…pine forests of the Highlands. Under threat Red squirrel populations have seriously declined, with only around 120,000 remaining in Scotland today. In some places they have not been seen for many years. The greatest threat to the red squirrel’s future in Scotland is the invasive non-native grey squirrel. Larger and more robust, grey squirrels out-compete red squirrels for food… […]
…Scotland continues to provide a home for the bulk of the country’s red squirrels, which still occurs as the sole species of squirrel over highland Scotland. Happily, the sightings also show that the native species still occupies a large area in the south of Scotland, although here they share the landscape with grey squirrels. The largest concentration of squirrel reports… […]
