Invasive Non-Native Species Week 2025 – The grey threat

A non-native species is a species that has been introduced to an area where it doesn’t naturally occur. Most of these are harmless but some threaten native species. These are called invasive non-native species (INNS). INNS have been identified as one of the top causes of global biodiversity loss. In Scotland, one of the most prominent INNS is the grey… […]

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News: Record participation in national squirrel survey

  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… […]

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An Introduction to Squirrels in Scotland

  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…. […]

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New sightings signal red squirrels’ return to Aberdeen city parks and gardens

…if these beautiful animals were to settle in the institute grounds and become a regular sight.” While three quarters of the UK’s red squirrels are found in Scotland, their numbers have fallen drastically to just 120,000. This is largely due to the spread of the grey squirrel, which was first introduced to Britain from North America in the mid-19th Century…. […]

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Call to report red squirrel sightings in Dumfries & Galloway

…would make anyone think they were grey dominated areas. It is true that small numbers of grey squirrels are moving into these areas and it’s fantastic that local people understand how important it is that we know about these sightings, but reporting red squirrel sightings is equally important. It helps us monitor the impact our work is having, and know… […]

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How many red squirrels are there in Scotland?

…know how many red squirrels there are in Scotland? Not really. Counting the actual number of red squirrels is a near impossible task, and like most small animals their numbers will vary naturally from year to year depending on factors like food availability and weather. It’s been estimated that there could be around 120,000 red squirrels left in Scotland, 75%… […]

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Coronavirus: Temporary suspension of SSRS non-essential volunteer work

…issuing new guidance with immediate effect.   Grey squirrel control volunteers (including both trap-hosts and dispatchers) Registered Scottish Wildlife Trust volunteers undertaking grey squirrel control are able to continue with this essential work, provided that existing guidance (issued on 11/06/2020) is adhered to and a Covid-19 Risk Assessment has been completed and reviewed. The Covid-19 Risk Assessment can be accessed… […]

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SNOW DAY!

…fox, field vole trails, pheasants, and a variety of crows. I was fortunate enough to even find the trail of an otter, bounding through the snow, in and out of the Endrick! Unfortunately, I didn’t find any squirrel trails or sign in the nearby woods. King of all he surveys! Image: Paul McDonald.   Without any squirrel sign, I decided… […]

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How can mathematical modelling help save red squirrels in Scotland?

  When squirrelpox first arrived in the south of Scotland in 2005, there were fears that the virus would prove devastating to the region’s red squirrels. The project was also concerned that without conservation action the virus would continue to spread north towards Scotland’s core red squirrel populations in the Highlands. Prof Andy White of Heriot-Watt University and Dr Peter… […]

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This Year's Sightings