Can red squirrels weather the storm?

  Stormy weather has hit Scotland hard in recent weeks, causing severe hardship to many and devastation to some of our native and commercial woodlands. While the safety of our staff and volunteers is always our top priority, it’s not surprising that many people have been in touch with us to ask “how are the red squirrels coping?”   Some… […]

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To feed or not to feed?

Original Author: Alexa Seagrave   We often get asked about feeding red squirrels, and the very best thing you can do is make your garden as wildlife friendly as possible.   Planting native shrubs and small trees for berries and nuts will provide the best natural food for free and give the best nutrition. So get out there and plant… […]

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How can mathematical modelling help save red squirrels in Scotland?

…Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland conservation efforts. Our knowledge of squirrel reproduction, dispersal, mortality, competition and squirrelpox transmission allows us to create mathematical models that simulate how red and grey squirrel populations change over time. The models can be combined with satellite maps of forest and squirrel habitat distribution to determine, for example, the spread and impact of squirrelpox… […]

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Red squirrels and biosecurity

…it is however extremely difficult to keep grey squirrels out of feeding zones and so unless great care is taken, these can become a major focus for transferring the virus from carrier greys to the completely vulnerable reds. So susceptible are the red squirrels to the disease that it usually proves to be fatal within two weeks. The squirrelpox virus… […]

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The life of a feeder box

…with the simple (but effective) feeder boxes we use for our surveys of red and grey squirrels. Up in Aberdeenshire, we work closely with a fantastic social enterprise to make them. Below is the story of how some waste wood ends up coming back to life. Wood Recyclability Ltd was established in 1997 to offer adults with learning difficulties (trainees)… […]

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This Year's Sightings