…a data-driven approach to evaluating the effectiveness of conservation activity. Following the publication of the paper, we take the opportunity to reflect on what evidence has highlighted to date. A key question has always been, how much grey squirrel control is required in Scotland to protect red squirrels and how can it be delivered? The paper provides a narrative of… […]
…safe haven for red squirrels and free from greys thanks to the hard work of staff, landowners, partner organisations and volunteers working along the geographical diagonal Highland Boundary Fault Line to stop grey incursion northwards. The results of the survey also reflect the significant success of efforts in Aberde*]}*en over recent years, with only very small numbers reported from the… […]
…Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has proposed changes to the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) which could potentially remove this protection, and that of many other iconic yet threatened Scottish species, including pine martens. The proposed changes could mean that only those species “in imminent danger of extinction” would be afforded protection. Thanks to years of dedicated conservation efforts and… […]
…during the day. We have a squirrel feeder and bird feeders in the garden, but I’d only ever seen one squirrel visiting our garden at a time. Since spending more time at home, we’ve managed to see three all at once, and now I’ve seen the leucistic red squirrel too!” © Chris Eddington Any sightings of both red and grey… […]
…to the north. More recently, this includes work to protect red squirrel populations in selected landscapes in the south from exclusion by grey squirrels. Dr Tonkin added “All of our fieldwork was unfortunately suspended this year when the lockdown hit in March, and caused fears of a “bounce-back” of grey squirrels in a year which has coincidentally been a boom… […]
Participants of the 2022 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey have helped to build a better picture of red and grey squirrel distributions across Scotland, helping conservation efforts across the country. Members of the public helped contribute significantly to red squirrel conservation in Scotland by reporting sightings during the annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey Week in October of last year. This was… […]
One year on from it’s five-year Developing Community Action project, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels detail key successes of red squirrel conservation work, and advise on essential actions needed to ensure long-term survival of the species in Scotland. The final report of the £2.46 + million funded project, titled Saving an icon: Final report from the Developing Community Action Phase of… […]
…non-native grey squirrels, pine martens and red squirrels have evolved to co-exist in our natural ecosystem. However, a new paper from Queen’s University Belfast and University of St Andrews suggests that in non-native conifer forests, the presence of pine martens may cause a decline in red squirrels. The predator’s appetite switches from grey squirrels – which are often absent in… […]
…causing the region’s red squirrel populations to decline rapidly. Years of grey squirrel control work carried out by Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has already removed grey squirrels from much of Aberdeenshire, allowing red squirrels to return to places such as Ellon and even some parts of Aberde*]}*en. A 2017 survey conducted by the project indicated that red squirrel populations in… […]
…Pine martens and squirrels – Dr Emma Sheehy, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Session Q&A SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER Session 1: Celebrating Community Action Grey squirrel control and the SSRS trap loan scheme – James Kennedy, SSRS Grey Squirrel Officer Woodland management and the Forestry Grant Scheme – Colin Edwards, Scottish Forestry Landowner Story: Argaty Red Kites – Mary-Anne… […]
