…of grey squirrels. In Tayside, the project is focused on what is known as the ‘Highland Line’ – a 10km-wide strip which runs from Montrose, through Kirriemuir, Dunkeld, Crieff and beyond to the west. Thanks to ongoing conservation efforts along the Highland Line, Aberfeldy and the surrounding area has typically been considered a safe haven for our native species. This… […]
…the wider Aberdeenshire countryside, further threatening important red squirrel populations in Grampian and the Highlands. Grey Squirrel © Nicola Nuttall Larger and more productive than their red counterparts, grey squirrels can rapidly out-compete red squirrels for food and living space, making it difficult for the native species to successfully breed and for their young to survive. Because of… […]
…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… […]
…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… […]
…to their developed immunity. Grey squirrels are also able to outcompete red squirrels for resources such as food and habitat, in part due to their larger size, making it harder for red squirrels to breed and survive. As well as the impact of grey squirrels, habitat loss has played a significant role in the decline of red squirrels. Squirrels rely… […]
…we’ll continue to reduce the number and spread of grey squirrels in Aberdeen and the surrounding area; and commission scientific advice detailing the approximate timeline and milestones towards eradication. We expect that as grey squirrel numbers continue to fall, the control team will develop a “rapid response” strategy – detecting and removing any remaining grey squirrels until eradication can be… […]
…so on. One of our survey volunteers, Gus, was away with his class on a field trip to Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms. A stunning place a with a lot of wildlife, as any of you who have ever watched BBC Autumn or Winterwatch will know. Gus set up his camera in the woods and put a wee bit… […]
