News: Get squirrel spotting during the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey next week!

…on a record-breaking turnout in 2020, last year’s 2021 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey saw 1549 squirrel sightings reported in just one week by nearly 1100 people across Scotland. Sightings help project staff to create a picture of the situation on the ground, and directly contribute to red squirrel conservation action. Since the end of the project’s spring surveys in 2020,… […]

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2024 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey

…squirrel sightings in just one week. Let’s make this year’s survey even greater! Report your sighting Kids worksheet   Three Simple Steps   Find Out More Why do we need this data? SSRS has been collecting public squirrel sightings since 2010, last year we received a massive 17,016 sightings with the help of the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, giving us… […]

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Coronavirus: Phased restart of SSRS outdoor volunteer work

…we welcomed the return of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels grey squirrel control staff and essential control volunteers to outdoor working who were able to work alone and apply social distancing measures in alignment with our new SSRS Covid-19 risk assessments for outdoor working. Following the latest easing of restrictions, grey squirrel control volunteers are now able to travel outwith a… […]

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Sprinting Winter Squirrels

…making “chucking” noises, clattering their claws on the tree limb and lashing his tail playfully once she emerges from the drey. She will usually groom thoroughly and then move off, with the male following. If the female decides her personal space has been invaded, she may turn on the male, “chuck” at him and flick her tail angrily. Or she… […]

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Local update: getting into the squirrel spirit

…and grey. Your sightings really help us to know what’s happening in the region and to target our efforts effectively. Keep them coming!   We really have gotten into the squirrel spirit, with squirrel-shaped gingerbread to celebrate Red Squirrel Week back at the end of September, and a recent visit from ‘Sandy the squirrel’ at Balmaha National Park Visitor Centre…. […]

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A red squirrel treasure hunt

…thrive in broadleaf woodland when they aren’t under threat from competition with grey squirrels. In fact, because they feed on such a wide variety of foods they often do best when they have access to both. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels offers advice to woodland managers and owners to help them make choices that will protect and enhance their local red… […]

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News: Suspected squirrelpox outbreak near Lockerbie threatens local red squirrel population

…various areas over the years, targeted grey squirrel control work has ensured that the local red squirrel populations have successfully recovered. Research published by Professor Andy White and colleagues has shown that when grey squirrel numbers are kept low, red squirrels are given enough time to repopulate an area after suffering a major decline. Nicole Still, Programme Manager for Saving… […]

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Argyll, Trossachs & Stirling

…threaten their survival. These grey squirrels not only out-compete reds, some also carry the deadly squirrelpox virus. If their spread was allowed to continue, Scotland’s red squirrel stronghold in the southern Highlands would be at serious risk. The aim in this region is containment of the grey squirrel population to prevent further inroads being made on Scotland’s core red squirrel… […]

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This Year's Sightings