Reviewing the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation

…conservation measures such as grey squirrel control, disease surveillance, habitat management and impacts of land use. The timeline for developing the Strategy is to submit the first draft to Nature Scot by early 2025. The Scottish Squirrel Group has already kicked started the process with a series of online workshops held throughout February to establish the most up to date… […]

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

…highly invasive grey squirrel could also spread further into the Grampians and the Highlands, threatening Scotland’s largest populations of red squirrels. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is encouraging people to report sightings of both red and grey squirrels online. The project is also looking for volunteers in the area to support its vital conservation work. Sarah Woodfin, Monitoring Officer, North East… […]

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Join the Hub

…to protect local red squirrel populations. Registered users can keep track of their squirrel sightings, and join a local red squirrel network to connect with others in your area. Once you have become a Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels volunteer you’ll also be able to use the Hub to access training resources and materials and submit and view your data online…. […]

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To feed or not to feed?

…disease. Suppliers Most suitable foods are available from online suppliers, garden centres, farm suppliers, supermarkets and health food shops. Pet food shops may also supply mixtures containing some or all of the recommended foods, sold for pets such as chipmunks. If you know of anyone else feeding squirrels, please pass on this information, or ask them to contact their local… […]

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News: ‘Booster’ project will protect Scotland’s red squirrels for another two years

online as part of September’s third annual ‘Great Scottish Squirrel Survey’ campaign. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and includes NatureScot, Scottish Forestry, Scottish Land & Estates, RSPB Scotland and the Red Squirrel Survival Trust. In 2017 the project was awarded £2.46 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project has… […]

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Coronavirus: all SSRS outdoor volunteer work suspended

…or Conservation Officer. With the potential loss of spring survey data, squirrel sightings will be more important than ever. So if you are outside to exercise and you happen to see a red or grey squirrel, you can still help by reporting it online. Thank you for all the incredible work you are doing to protect Scotland’s red squirrels.  … […]

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New Frontiers for Volunteers

…as a field technician and research assistant studying rodent populations and testing two methods for controlling the plague (Yersinia pestis) a.k.a. Black Death. There I gained a lot of hands-on experience trapping and handling rats, mice, squirrels and chipmunks, as well as the odd striped and spotted skunks (striped skunk below). Next, after 2 and a half years away I… […]

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This Year's Sightings