South Scotland

…helped establish 17 dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer Local Network Groups across the region, providing them with the training and support they need to control grey squirrels and monitor, promote and protect red squirrels where they live. The majority of these groups now work independently from SSRS, although we continue to support these efforts via our Community Hub and necessary professional… […]

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Activities

…squirrels are great fun to make and you get to play with them afterwards! To get started you’ll need plain flour, salt, water, a baking tray lined with baking paper, an oven or airing cupboard, paintbrushes, acrylic paint and varnish. An adult will need to help younger children with parts of this activity. Follow the link below for our easy… […]

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Gardening for red squirrels

…a designated ‘wildlife corner’. Leaving a patch of your garden to grow wild will benefit all sorts of garden wildlife, including red squirrels. Allow grass and wild plants to establish and grow tall, create hiding places and habitat features with rocks, and leave some logs to decompose to encourage fungi (also part of a red squirrel’s diet).   Feed red… […]

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

…carefully provide our golden eagle juveniles with supplementary food, as their parents would do in a natural situation, until they settle and can find local food sources for themselves. With conservation at the heart of our project, we source the youngsters’ food from a wide range of pre-existing sources. It is fantastic to get support from long standing ethical management… […]

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Argaty’s red squirrels are back in full force

…in the early 1990s, and I was riding my bike along the rutted, potholed track that serves as the main road through our family farm. Stopping for a drink of water I looked across the adjacent field when an unexpected movement caught my eye. Standing atop a nearby gatepost was a red squirrel. Tail twitching, eyes unblinking it stared at… […]

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The Bald Facts

…threat to our red squirrels, recognised by lesions around eyes, nose, paws and genitals, often weeping, and localised balding. These squirrels also tend to move very lethargically. If you see a sick red squirrel and think it may have Squirrelpox please contact us directly, and if you are able to provide a photograph it would help us to assess the… […]

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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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An Autumn Overview of Tree ID

…preparation for the winter months, digging food away in a safe space for a later date. Remember to keep an eye out for any buds on trees – this could be a sign that a squirrel (or other animal) has beat you to the fruit first. Additional useful links If you just can’t learn enough about Britain’s native and non-native… […]

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This Year's Sightings