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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Squirrel Sightings: an inside look

…on the general public to keep an eye out for red and grey squirrels in their area and submit their sightings to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels.   Why do we do this? The information we get from your squirrel sightings gives us a clear picture of both red and grey squirrel movements, and helps us and our volunteers to direct… […]

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Vital protections for red squirrels at risk

…Countryside Act 1981. The Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform (Mairi McAllan) gave this response: S6W-01445 Mairi McAllan : “The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing biodiversity and to protecting vulnerable species in Scotland. Following the conclusion of the seventh Quinquennial Review the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) will submit recommendations for potential changes to the animals and plants… […]

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Argyll, Trossachs & Stirling

Argyll, the Trossachs & Stirling Successfully defending the Highland Boundary Line to protect north Scotland’s red squirrels through strategic control and monitoring With vast tree canopies and plentiful food supply, the forests of west Scotland are home to healthy numbers of red squirrels. However, grey squirrels spreading northwards from the Central Belt and westwards from Stirlingshire and Perthshire continue to… […]

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One small step for Perthshire’s reds

…reported by the public in both Pitlochry and Aberfeldy between July and September 2020 marked a worrying potential northward spread that could have serious consequences for Scotland’s core red squirrel populations if allowed to become established in these areas.   Pitlochry grey squirrel © J Jenner   Our awareness raising campaign calling on the public to report any grey squirrel… […]

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Argaty’s red squirrels are back in full force

computer down and head to the woods to feed our squirrels. If none are around I will linger a few minutes, as I do every day, and wait for the first one to come in. And as I stand watching it I will remember the excitement of that first squirrel sighting and wonder what my ten-year old self would say… […]

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News: Public squirrel sightings soar in 2023

…city and its outskirts. In the South of Scotland a mix of the two species remain, with volunteer groups working hard to lower grey densities in the region. Grey squirrels were introduced to Scotland in Victorian times and have since replaced the native red squirrel in many parts of the country. They out-compete reds for food and living space and […]

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News: Get involved in Scotland’s fifth annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey

Between 2-8 October we are encouraging members of the public to explore the outdoors, get squirrel spotting, and add sightings of red and grey squirrels to scottishsquirrels.org.uk. The annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey is the most important public event for comparing yearly distributions of red and grey squirrels. Last year we received 10,484 sightings in total with the help of… […]

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This Year's Sightings