News: Help stop the spread of grey squirrels in the Mearns

…that people can help. We need to recruit a number of volunteers to support our important work to conserve red squirrels in the Mearns. We also need people living in the area to be on the look-out for grey squirrels in their gardens and in local parks and woodlands. All sightings of both red and grey squirrels are invaluable and… […]

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Reviewing the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation

…While there is still a long way to go, the Scottish Squirrel Group is committed to the development of the new Strategy to guide the next decade of strategic actions and work towards the new ambitious 50-year vision for the recovery of red squirrels throughout Scotland. Stay tuned for further updates as the group continues this vital and important work!… […]

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Red squirrels and biosecurity

…characteristics of the smallpox and chickenpox viruses, it is not classified directly within the Parapoxvirus group – it is an outlier. Carried by American grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) without effect, squirrelpox is commonly found in greys from Ontario down to the Carolinas of Eastern North America. It is not known when squirrelpox came to UK but it was first confirmed… […]

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Knowledge Fair – celebrating five years of community action

  In December over 100 SSRS volunteers, landowners and other supporters joined us online to celebrate the end of the project’s ‘Developing Community Action‘ phase. The two-day Knowledge Fair featured presentations and panel discussions on all that the project has achieved over the past five years. It was also an opportunity to learn more about the red squirrel conservation work… […]

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Get Involved

…monitoring red and grey squirrel numbers across the country, managing the spread of grey squirrels in strategic areas, and inspiring community action to ensure the long-term survival of our native species. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. There are all sorts of other ways to get involved in the project, from… […]

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News: Red letter day – Plean’s first red squirrel entered home through letterbox

…I went to pick up the mail I found the wee rascal running around the living room at a hundred miles an hour, all over the furniture. “I just wanted to let him out without hurting him. He went for the window so I lifted the blinds and opened it. He saw the opening and was off like lightning.” The… […]

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North East towns at the forefront of efforts to save Scotland’s red squirrels

…panic. Equally, complacency is not an option and we would like the public’s help to build a better picture of the local situation so that we can focus our work and ensure the grey squirrels are removed to protect the well-established red squirrel population in the region.” Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife… […]

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Community Hub

Welcome to the Community Hub Community action is the key to the long-term survival of Scotland’s red squirrels. The Hub is a space for our supporters and volunteers to keep up to date with the project and connect with like-minded people working to protect local red squirrel populations. Registered users can keep track of their squirrel sightings, and join a… […]

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

…outlined recommendations from the achievements and learnings of Developing Community Action need to be sustained if red squirrels are to continue to be a part of Scotland’s native wildlife. This work needs to be further embedded in the operations of statutory agencies, local authorities, communities and other stakeholder organisations to form a landscape-wide mosaic of grey squirrel control and monitoring,… […]

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New Conservation Officer calls for the public to help protect red squirrels in the Scottish Borders

…are also working on the ground to control grey squirrel numbers in the areas where this action will have a positive impact on red squirrel populations. One way that everyone can help is to report sightings of both red and grey squirrels on the project website, scottishsquirrels.org.uk. Dr Mel Tonkin, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project Manager said: “Conservationists have been… […]

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This Year's Sightings