All things invasive with the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

…staggering 94% decline in native water vole populations? The American skunk-cabbage plant does actually smell as bad as a skunk….   White butterburr was imported as a garden ornamental from mainland Europe and SW Asia and escaped into the wild.   What is an Invasive Species? There are around 2,000 non-native plants and animals in the UK, these non-native species… […]

Read More…

Spotting the elusive Scottish Red Squirrel

…may be one of many homes for a single squirrel. Be patient. Some people are lucky enough to have red squirrels visit their gardens on a regular basis, but if like me you’re not one of them, wherever you choose to squirrel-watch you’ll have to be quiet and patient because red squirrels are notoriously shy animals. Record your sighting on… […]

Read More…

Grey squirrel control: connecting the dots

…the spread of grey squirrels. Classified as an invasive non-native species, it is widely acknowledged that targeted, landscape-scale grey squirrel population control is essential if we want to reverse the decline of Scotland’s red squirrels. It’s a huge undertaking, but fortunately there are many passionate and experienced landowners and individuals volunteering to do their bit across priority areas. At Saving… […]

Read More…

News: Public citizen science effort creates snapshot of squirrel distributions across Scotland.

…this iconic species. A total of 659 people took part in the survey, with 255 grey squirrel and 510 red squirrel sightings reported in total, more than triple the number of sightings reported in a typical week. The survey confirmed that the red-only population of the Highlands remains safe and free of grey squirrels thanks to efforts by staff protecting… […]

Read More…

A future for Scotland’s red squirrels is on the money

to appear on a Scottish twenty. However it was the note’s other side that we were keenly awaiting here at Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels. The design is part of the RBS ‘Fabric of Nature’ series, which began in the sea (£5, mackerel), moving on to the coast (£10, otters), and is now heading into the forest. A few of us… […]

Read More…

How can we reduce road deaths?

interventions to reduce road deaths include the use of SLOW DOWN SQUIRREL CROSSING traffic signs and rope bridges strung up in the canopy allowing the squirrel to pass over the road without ever leaving the treetops. But are these methods effective? The Solution? Road signs may be a useful tool in informing people that red squirrels are in the area,… […]

Read More…

This Year's Sightings