News: Moffat’s red squirrels and golden eagles team up to give native wildlife a boost

…the community that the main reason there have been so few red squirrels seen around Moffat is due to the influx of grey squirrels into the area. We are carrying out a very successful trapping programme with the support of local landowners and householders. Already this year we have had more than double the number of reported red squirrel sightings… […]

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Join team squirrel!

…(ASAP – 31 August 2022) Closing date: 20 March 2022 The post will contribute to the project’s co-ordinated landscape-scale approach to reduce grey squirrel numbers in the target area of Dunkeld thus preventing grey squirrel dispersal into Dunkeld-Blairgowrie-Coupar-Angus area. APPLY NOW   Seasonal Grey Squirrel Officer – East Angus Location: Home based, East Angus area (i.e. Forfar/Montrose area) Region: Tayside… […]

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News: Take a red squirrel ramble with new digital walking routes

…from the threat of invasive non-native grey squirrels. Project Manager Dr. Mel Tonkin said: “The walking trails are not only fantastic places to catch sight of a red squirrel in action, they are also located in the key project areas where we are working to ensure the long-term protection of this iconic Scottish species. “The trails are designed to encourage… […]

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News: Record participation in national squirrel survey

…outdoors. Both species seen throughout the week were reported to scottishsquirrels.org.uk for inclusion in a national database that directly influences conservation action. A total of 548 grey squirrel and 2612 red squirrel sightings were reported to the project during the survey, almost eight times as many sightings as would be reported in a typical week and almost four times the… […]

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Welcoming volunteers back into the field this Volunteers’ Week

…Assessment followed. Volunteers can now undertake operational survey work, which was previously suspended All face to face training activities can now recommence, including trail camera and operational survey training for volunteers In-person Volunteer Network Group meetings can now commence, adhering to Government guidelines on meeting others indoors or outdoors Leaflet drops are now permitted for volunteers As highlighted in our… […]

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HRH The Prince of Wales gives special thanks to volunteers on Red Squirrel Appreciation Day

  Today marks Red Squirrel Appreciation Day, a time to celebrate one of our most treasured native species and those that have been working selflessly to protect them. Our conservation efforts would not be possible without the tremendous help of our enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, and today our gratitude is echoed in an open letter from HRH The Prince of […]

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

…unusual year with an increase in people spending time in the Scottish outdoors, we would love the public to once again head outside and help us increase our sightings to improve our understanding of Scotland’s squirrel populations”. Conservation Officer for Tayside Susie McNaughton said: “With ample nature food sources available and leaves falling, autumn is an ideal time to spot… […]

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Studying the life of the urban red squirrel

…available resources like supplemental food whilst avoiding or adapting to potential risks such as roads. I hope that the findings will contribute to the long-term conservation of this endangered native species, both in the study site and elsewhere in the UK. Data Collection Fieldwork took place during the summers of 2017 to 2020 in the town of Formby, Merseyside, which… […]

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Squirrelpox: Staying ahead of the spread

…red and grey squirrels in the event of a disease outbreak. We recommend an anti-viral solution such as Virkon-S. Squirrel sightings also have an important role to play in monitoring distribution changes over time and assessing areas where both red and grey squirrels come into close proximity. Sightings of both species can be reported through our website at https://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/. And… […]

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For nature, go native

  Research carried out in Northern Ireland has highlighted the importance of native woodland for the long-term protection of red squirrels. The research modelled red squirrel populations in non-native conifer forests with the presence of pine martens— a natural predator to the red squirrel in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Pine martens had been persecuted to near-extinction in Scotland, but… […]

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This Year's Sightings