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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SSRS Knowledge Fair

SSRS Knowledge Fair: celebrating five years of developing community action   3-4 December 2021 As our ‘Developing Community Action’ phase comes to an end we will be celebrating all the project has achieved alongside our partners, volunteers, landowners and supporters. This virtual Knowledge Fair will also provide an opportunity to learn more about red squirrel conservation work happening across Scotland… […]

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News: Report details red squirrel conservation successes, with key recommendations for the iconic species’ long-term future in Scotland.

…in range and density partially due to over 70 homes hosting grey squirrel traps in their gardens. Additionally, the wider Scottish public contributed via the annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, with an average of over 1800 squirrel sightings reported between 2019 and 2021. With only a year left in the current two-year Transition Phase of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, the… […]

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

…its presence, the benchmark. As you will all know so well, these charming and intelligent creatures never fail to delight. I take enormous pleasure in having them around – and in! – the house when I am at home in Scotland. They are such inquisitive and delightful characters; they have even been known to hunt down a few of their… […]

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Squirrel Sightings: an inside look

…a recent report of a grey squirrel seen near Loch Katrine was worrying and surprising, as it has been a stronghold for red squirrels for many years, and is some distance from the nearest grey squirrel population. Swift action ensured that the squirrel was captured, and since then local people have kept a sharp eye out to make sure there… […]

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An Autumn Overview of Tree ID

…of habitat the squirrel was spotted in. Having a basic knowledge of tree identification comes in helpful here and sharing this allows us to investigate which habitats squirrels appear to be thriving in. Spotting the difference between a coniferous and deciduous tree in autumn is simple. Deciduous trees with broad leaves, change colour and often lose their leaves at this… […]

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Argaty Red Kites celebrate their other star species with a new red squirrel hide

…the area’s red squirrel conservation journey. The Woodland Hide can host up to three people at one time and is custom-built for photography. © Argaty Red Kites   Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has been monitoring squirrel populations in the area since 2012. At first, only grey squirrels were detected on the Argaty estate. Then, in 2013/14 the map changed from… […]

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Coronavirus: Temporary suspension of SSRS non-essential volunteer work

  Following the latest government guidelines, it has been agreed between Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels and the Scottish Wildlife Trust that all volunteer work, with the exception of essential grey squirrel control volunteers, will be temporarily suspended with immediate effect.   As we prepare for mainland Scotland to transition into Tier 4 restrictions from Saturday 26 December onwards, we are… […]

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How can mathematical modelling help save red squirrels in Scotland?

…squirrel presence after 24 simulated years for different levels of grey squirrel control in Dumfries & Galloway. Grey squirrel control was simulated in the model in the areas indicated by the black rectangles.   For more information on the modelling work and other strongholds in the Central Lowlands of Scotland see: http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/~awhite/ Prof A. White & Dr P. W.W. Lurz… […]

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This Year's Sightings