…Choose A Specific Appeal to ensure your donation goes toward protecting Scotland’s red squirrels. Make a donation Adopt a red squirrel Scotland’s native red squirrels need your help! Only around 120,000 remain here in the wild, and without urgent action they could be lost forever. By adopting one you will be helping to secure the future of this beautiful and… […]
…squirrels – which account for around 75% of the total UK population. Red squirrels are a protected species, but for many years have experienced declines due to the invasive non-native grey squirrel introduced to Britain from North America in Victorian times. Grey squirrels out-compete reds for food and living space and have rapidly replaced native red squirrel populations across most… […]
…specific volunteer openings can be found on the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Volunteering Opportunities page. Do keep in touch with your local Conservation Officer or Community Engagement Officer if you have any questions or concerns. What should I do with my 2020 Spring Survey kit? Please read over the guidance and instructions below for your survey area: North East If… […]
SSRS Knowledge Fair: celebrating five years of developing community action 3-4 December 2021 As our ‘Developing Community Action’ phase comes to an end we will be celebrating all the project has achieved alongside our partners, volunteers, landowners and supporters. This virtual Knowledge Fair will also provide an opportunity to learn more about red squirrel conservation work happening across Scotland… […]
…that if it is running about happily, it is likely that it is simply shedding its winter coat, or moulting. In fact red squirrels have two moults a year, in the spring and the autumn. Starting at the head and working its way down the body to the base of the tail, the moult can take up to six weeks… […]
…grey squirrels, even some blood sampling (not everyone’s cup of tea but extremely interesting). As a volunteer, the great thing about this project is that I can take on as much or as little as I want and I can do it in my own time, at my own pace and with good support. The ultimate reward is when someone… […]
…keep an eye out for any buds on trees – this could be a sign that a squirrel (or other animal) has beat you to the fruit first. Additional useful links If you just can’t learn enough about Britain’s native and non-native trees, you can find out more information by following the links below. Happy tree ID-ing everyone! https://forestryandland.gov.scot/learn/trees https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/… […]
…of factors including availability of food, weather, and body condition. Body weight, closely linked to food abundance, is integral to breeding success; female squirrels must reach a minimum weight to breed (around 280-300g). In areas where food is plentiful, two litters of kittens (or kits) may be born, the first in early spring (Feb/Mar) and the second in summer (May/June)…. […]
…have a small army of over 50 local contacts on the lookout for both species, with more people asking to join in, and tourists doing their bit as well. When doing our hopper surveys in 2015, we were in a position to detect greys, but completely failed to do so. Even though there were sightings during our survey periods, no… […]
Original Author: Alexa Seagrave We often get asked about feeding red squirrels, and the very best thing you can do is make your garden as wildlife friendly as possible. Planting native shrubs and small trees for berries and nuts will provide the best natural food for free and give the best nutrition. So get out there and plant… […]
