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

…of the invasive non-native grey squirrel which, along with carrying the squirrelpox virus, also outcompete red squirrels for food and habitat. Greys were first introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians and have since displaced red squirrels in most of England and Wales, with more than 75% of the UK’s total remaining population residing in Scotland today…. […]

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News: ‘Booster’ project will protect Scotland’s red squirrels for another two years

them to become fully community-led. In the North East, the project has worked towards the removal of an isolated population of grey squirrels that was introduced to Aberdeen in the 1970s and spread to the surrounding countryside. Today, grey squirrels are largely limited to the centre of the city and eradication is considered achievable. In the Central Lowlands, grey squirrels… […]

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News: Help stop the spread of grey squirrels in the Mearns

not only threatens the local red squirrel population in the Mearns but it could also jeopardise the project’s success in Aberdeen. The introduction of squirrelpox into North East Scotland could be devastating for the core populations of red squirrels in the north of Scotland. For more information about volunteering with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels visit scottishsquirrels.org.uk.   VIEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES… […]

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Southern Uplands Partnership Guest Blog: Funding Success for Red Squirrel Recovery Network

the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring… […]

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Leaping into the future

…populations of the Highlands, Argyll, North-East Scotland, northern Tayside and Stirling. The programme will also deliver the required support and co-ordination to voluntary groups and individuals actively delivering vital long-term protection of red squirrels in key areas across the country. In this project phase we’ll also continue to carry out vital conservation work in key areas: In the North East,… […]

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Seasonal Squirrels Part 3: Autumn!

As the warmth and brightness of summer give way to the colourful leaves and shorter days of autumn, the Scottish red squirrel is at their most active on the forest floor – caching food for the colder months ahead. The behaviour of red squirrels in autumn offers a window into the natural rhythm of the seasons, and it is the […]

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Trees for Life Guest Blog: Boosting red squirrel populations throughout the Highlands

in the Highlands, and how you can help in these endeavours. Supporting reds Red squirrel conservation in Scotland currently involves both managing greys and creating new populations of reds. It is vital that grey squirrel populations are monitored and managed to ensure they don’t spread the life-threatening squirrel pox disease and encroach further north. Luckily, there are currently no resident… […]

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Argyll, Trossachs & Stirling

for more information.   Landowners Landowners in certain areas can control grey squirrels under Forestry Grant Scheme funding, or join the project’s trap-loan scheme. Woodland owners, meanwhile, can adjust the management of their woods to benefit red squirrels. Please contact your local SSRS or Scottish Forestry staff for more information.   Area Contact Susie McNaughton Highland Line Conservation Lead smcnaughton@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk […]

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RZSS Guest blog – Red squirrel recovery – a local success story

…this, there are many people throughout the country who have never seen a red squirrel due to the catastrophic declines they have suffered since non-native grey squirrels were introduced to the UK beginning in the 1890s; red squirrels are currently listed as an endangered species in the UK, and without conservation action are at risk of being driven to extinction…. […]

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Get Involved

…network. Visit our volunteer network directory to find out if there is a group operating in your area. Contact us or join our online Community Hub to express interest. Join a local volunteer network Landscape-scale community action is the key to the long-term survival of Scotland’s red squirrels. The project is supporting red squirrel networks across our priority areas. The […]

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This Year's Sightings