North East Scotland

…single, accidental, introduction event in 1971. Within a few decades, grey squirrels replaced red squirrels throughout Aberdeen city. As their numbers increased they also spread into rural areas along the Dee, beyond Banchory, and the Don, as far as Inverurie, posing a threat to the red squirrels in wider Aberdeenshire and to nearby populations in Moray and the Highlands. SSRS… […]

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One small step for Perthshire’s reds

…like much, but locating and intercepting the very early grey squirrel colonisers is a difficult job – needles and haystacks being an apt analogy – and your reports enable us to narrow our search. Although the risk of grey squirrel presence in the area has been reduced, we of course do not know how many grey squirrels remain in Pitlochry,… […]

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

…squirrels is now largely contained within Aberdeen’s city limits and red squirrels are increasingly seen in the city’s parks and gardens. Grey squirrels spreading from Angus into Aberdeenshire not only threatens the local red squirrel population in the Mearns but it could also jeopardise the project’s success in Aberdeen. The introduction of squirrelpox into North East Scotland could be devastating… […]

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Argaty’s red squirrels are back in full force

…limited to our estate. Reds are now present across all of the surrounding countryside. Indeed, one morning whilst driving into Doune, our nearest village, one came bounding across the road and leapt into the children’s playpark. We have people to thank for this remarkable revival. Thanks to years of control carried out on this and other neighbouring estates, grey squirrels… […]

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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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Cally Gardens Wildlife Hide is now open!

to entice many songbird species into view, including the pied flycatcher, a stunning and rare summer visitor already nesting in the vicinity. Even the roof of the hide will be planted up by Kevin with ferns, bilberries and other species in due course! Access to the hide has been encouraged by Forestry and Land Scotland as the custodians of the… […]

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

compared to 2019. “Although necessary, the decision to control grey squirrels is not an easy one to make so we were delighted when Forestry and Land Scotland asked if we would consider saving our grey squirrel carcasses for the recently arrived juvenile eagles.” The pioneering South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project aims to reinforce the small, isolated and vulnerable population… […]

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Coronavirus: Temporary suspension of SSRS non-essential volunteer work

…through the Community Hub Grey Squirrel Control Group documents, or by contacting your local Community Engagement Officer or Conservation Officer. We ask those continuing with voluntary control work to keep abreast of any further changes in the Scottish Government’s coronavirus advice and please ensure compliance with coronavirus restrictions in your local authority area by visiting https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/.   Survey volunteers All… […]

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Coronavirus: Phased restart of SSRS outdoor volunteer work

…we welcomed the return of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels grey squirrel control staff and essential control volunteers to outdoor working who were able to work alone and apply social distancing measures in alignment with our new SSRS Covid-19 risk assessments for outdoor working. Following the latest easing of restrictions, grey squirrel control volunteers are now able to travel outwith a… […]

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This Year's Sightings