…southwards from the Central Belt, completely replacing red squirrels in Lothian, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, parts of Ayrshire and parts of the Scottish Borders. In 2001 grey squirrels from Cumbria spread north into Dumfriesshire for the first time. Four years later it was discovered that these new arrivals were carrying the squirrelpox virus, which had already had a devastating effect on red… […]
…on woodland habitat, and where this is altered, due to development, or change in land use, this can lead to isolated populations of red squirrels, making it harder for them to survive. Not only do red squirrels serve as the inspiration for many of our favourite childhood stories, they also play a vital role within the ecosystem. Red squirrels play… […]
…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… […]
…out-compete reds for food and living space and can also carry squirrelpox, a virus that doesn’t harm them but is fatal to reds. Squirrel sightings, which are collected year-round, help the National Lottery-funded SSRS project to understand how the distribution of each species is changing over time, and can also alert staff to situations where grey squirrels are posing an… […]
This week marks the official end of ‘Developing Community Action’. The past five years have gone incredibly fast! So what happens next? Funded by National Lottery Players, ‘Developing Community Action’ saw the SSRS team expand to its largest ever staffing level, with ambitious aims to boost our engagement with local communities, build a network of skilled volunteers and,… […]
…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… […]
…of bait out in the hope of a few squirrels or maybe even a marten. The very first thing to find the bait was a marten! Then by day there were heaps of squirrels. See this link for a cool video of what is known, technically speaking, as a scurry of squirrels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rik6pGV0KlI All very nice, but imagine Gus’ surprise… […]
