The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) is an important piece of UK-wide legislation that protects some of our most vulnerable species, including red squirrels. Under Schedule 5 of this law it is illegal to intentionally kill, harm or disturb a red squirrel; a vital asset in our efforts to save them. A review being led by the UK… […]
…city and its outskirts. In the South of Scotland a mix of the two species remain, with volunteer groups working hard to lower grey densities in the region. Grey squirrels were introduced to Scotland in Victorian times and have since replaced the native red squirrel in many parts of the country. They out-compete reds for food and living space and… […]
…radio and GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking. The results will support ongoing red squirrel conservation in the local area. The research is funded by Forestry & Land Scotland and will be carried out under a special licence from NatureScot. Grey squirrels were first introduced to Aberdeen in the 1970s. They soon replaced native red squirrels across the city and in… […]
…the forests of Dumfries and Galloway in an interactive app that will guide you on your adventure. Explore with the opportunity of wild encounters, discover more about red squirrels, complete challenges and collect tokens as you go. And of course, if you see a squirrel while walking, we want to hear about it! Download a Red Squirrel Ramble today… […]
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… […]
…characteristics. Red squirrels have ear tufts, which can be lost in the summer months, but generally re-appear in the autumn. They also have a smaller, slender body than the grey squirrel, with an adult red squirrel being around half the size/weight of an adult grey squirrel. © Daniel Martins Grey Squirrels Grey squirrels are… […]
…the species, their habitat and efforts to protect them. The ‘Red Squirrel Ramble’ trails guide walkers through ancient and historic woodlands, as well as scenic areas where red squirrels have made a recent comeback thanks to conservation efforts. Interactive walks are available at Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen, Atholl Estates’ Glen Tilt in Blair Atholl, RSPB Scotland’s Loch Lomond Reserve and… […]
…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… […]
…third-party service providers who we may need to share your data with (for example NBN Atlas). We require them to have appropriate controls in place and to agree to act only in accordance with our written instructions to ensure your data is secure and appropriate controls are in place. All third parties that we work with in this way are… […]
