…still as widespread as last year. Conversely – from our results so far – grey squirrel presence seems well down on last year; however, it is still too early to draw firm conclusions. In the south of Scotland, more than 100 new tetrads (or 2km square survey areas) were set up and surveyed for the first time this spring. Initial… […]
A record number of squirrel sightings were reported by the public during September’s Great Scottish Squirrel Survey. 2,100 people – three times the number who took part in the first national survey in 2019 – logged over 3,000 sightings of red and grey squirrels, creating a Scotland-wide snapshot and providing valuable data for conservationists. The Great Scottish Squirrel… […]
…in the following months. Populations will show increases in reproduction in the years that follow good food crops. Following a set 1 kilometre transect line, I stop every 100 metres to assess what tree species are present and the amount of food available within the area. The transects have taken me through deciduous woodland with bramble thickets dominating the woodland… […]
…Hughes of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Earl of Southesk. Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Simon Milne, said: “Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is an excellent example of how conservation bodies and landowners can – and indeed must – work together to safeguard our wildlife. “The Earl of Southesk and over 200 landowners and their teams are putting… […]
There are over 200 species of squirrel across the globe, and Scotland is home to just two of them, the Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Grey squirrels, which are native to North America, were introduced to Britain in 1876, before which it is estimated that there were around 3.5 million native red squirrels…. […]
…the blistering 14 degree sun, the team had some fun activities for families while talking about squirrels and other wildlife in the area. Both children and adults had a blast, drawing their versions of red squirrels (seen in the collage below). Our Sandy Squirrel Funpage, drawn by The Beano’s DC Thomson, kept many kids quiet, much to their parents’ delight!… […]
…the Highland Line and the isolated pocket of grey squirrels in Aberdeen. Squirrelpox is not currently a threat in Aberdeenshire, however this could change if the gap between the two grey squirrel populations closes and they become able to breed. “However, this is not the first time greys have been seen in these areas, and there is no cause to… […]
…squirrel conservationists of the future! Citizen Science Whilst we are still waiting to see a pine marten on our bird table at home, we do enjoy living with our very visible reds. I have set up a census (currently of around 20 gardens) to track the local population trend. Each month I collect two numbers from each participant: the greatest… […]
…can be reported to us at scottishsquirrels.org.uk.” Since 2009, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has been working in the North East of Scotland to eradicate an ‘island’ population of grey squirrels, which was introduced in the 1970s and is isolated from the rest of the Scottish population. Once widespread in Aberdeenshire along the rivers Dee and Don, this population of grey… […]
…2015-2025. Robyn Stewart, Species and Habitats Officer & Red Squirrel Species Lead at RSPB Scotland, tells us more: The current Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation has been primarily delivered through the partnership project Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels – initially though its Developing Community Action phase (2017 – 2022) and more recently in its Transition phase (2022-2024). With… […]
