Introducing the new Eastern Lowlands Red Squirrel Group

…doing red squirrel conservation? Are you a landowner, land manager, keeper, forester, pest controller, home owner or similar? If so, we are interested in what you currently do to contribute towards red squirrel conservation. That could be any of the following: Manage woodlands for the the benefit of red squirrels Report red and grey squirrel sightings to SSRS Perform structured… […]

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All things invasive with the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

…share in our enthusiasm and learn something new during the week. For example, did you know that… The estimated total annual costs of invasive non-native species to Scotland is more than £250 million? Giant hogweed leaves, which contain skin-burning sap, can grow up to 1m wide? Predation by the invasive American mink was one of the main factors in the… […]

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

…places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are. We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk […]

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Welcoming volunteers back into the field this Volunteers’ Week

…December volunteer announcement, grey squirrel control volunteers can continue their work in the field   We ask those looking to return to volunteering, to be proactive in monitoring changing Covid-19 guidelines in your local authority area, by regularly visiting https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/. Prior to commencing any new activities, a Covid-19 Risk Assessment will need to be reviewed. This can be accessed through… […]

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Squirrelpox: Staying ahead of the spread

…volunteers and members of the public can keep vigilant for sick red squirrels In order to be able to do that, you’ll first need to know how to recognise the symptoms of squirrelpox disease in red squirrels. The virus produces weeping lesions around the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, feet and genitalia. Overall, the infected red squirrel will appear noticeably unwell,… […]

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News: Record participation in national squirrel survey

…in Scotland. Dr Mel Tonkin, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project Manager said: “We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to report a squirrel sighting during the survey. It’s been inspiring to see more people than ever taking time to enjoy nature and on the look-out for squirrels.” “Reporting a squirrel sighting is a small act that helps to […]

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Argyll, Trossachs & Stirling

…In the future, we may be faced with squirrelpox in the Central Lowlands’ grey squirrel populations and it will be imperative that grey squirrel densities along the Highland Line are kept to a sufficiently low level, ensuring that there is insufficient circulating disease to be readily transmitted to neighbouring red squirrels. Where red squirrels do succumb locally to the disease,… […]

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Squirrel Sightings: an inside look

to have volunteers able to verify sightings in their areas to help with the task. Some sightings require action, especially grey sightings, as this is useful information for our grey squirrel control officers and volunteers as to where to focus their efforts. Most red sightings can be confirmed straight away, but if there is a comment that it looked sick,… […]

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An Introduction to Squirrels in Scotland

…There are now approximately 160,000 native red squirrels in Britain, of which over 75% live in Scotland Since the introduction of grey squirrels, they have become widespread across Britain due to their ability to adapt to new environments. They have also introduced the squirrel pox virus which, although catastrophic to red squirrels, appears to leave grey squirrels relatively unharmed due… […]

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Squirrel Sightings: an inside look

…thousands of sightings that come in throughout GSSS week, and we are fortunate to have volunteers able to verify sightings in their areas to help with the task. Some sightings require action, especially grey sightings, as this is useful information for our grey squirrel control officers and volunteers as to where to focus their efforts. Most red sightings can be… […]

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This Year's Sightings