Blog: Red squirrels

2023-01-20 | Press Notice: New action plan to save England’s red squirrels
Over the last 150 years, England’s red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, populations have significantly declined. This iconic species is now classed as nationally endangered. Evidence shows that the expansion of grey squirrel populations and range are the main cause of local red squirrel extinctions. On Red Squirrel Appreciation Day, 21 January 2023, the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) launches a new action plan to help protect and enhance England’s endangered red squirrels....

2023-01-16 | Pox virus threatens Lockerbie red squirrels
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has received multiple reports of red squirrels with suspected squirrelpox virus in Johnsfield just outside Lockerbie. Locals are urged to remain vigilant as this fatal disease could have serious consequences for the local red squirrel population. Within the past few weeks, and over the festive period, several individual red squirrels have been spotted by members of the public which appear to display classic symptoms of the deadly disease....

2022-09-30 | Saving the red squirrel - an update from the field
Funded by the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) and supporters, the Animal & Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) Wildlife Team is developing an oral contraceptive and species specific feeding hopper to manage populations of grey squirrels in the UK. This work hopes to reduce the damaging effects they have on native red squirrels, trees and woodland ecosystems. For Red Squirrel Awareness Week 2022, Sarah Beatham provides an update on hopper progress. So a feeder will be developed that delivers a bait containing contraceptives to most grey squirrels, while preventing access by red squirrels and other species....

2021-10-25 | Developing a grey squirrel feeder for targeted contraceptive delivery
How can an oral contraceptive be fed to 2.5 million grey squirrels? Research to develop an oral contraceptive for grey squirrels is now entering its fourth year. As these contraceptives may affect other mammals, one of the most important parts of the research is to design a bait hopper that only grey squirrels can feed from. This is a summary by researcher Sarah Beatham on some of the work carried out with Northumberland red squirrel community groups this summer, to test if red squirrels and other animals could be prevented from feeding from the hoppers....

2021-09-21 | The not-so-secret red squirrel island
The Isle of Wight has long been a haven for red squirrels, Sciurus vulgaris, thanks to the, just substantial enough, stretch of water known as The Solent, that separates the island from the mainland. The presence of the Solent and lack of any fixed connection (bridge or tunnel) to the mainland makes The Isle of Wight a very important stronghold for English red squirrels. In the UK, our native red squirrel’s story is inextricably linked with that of the eastern grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, introduced from North America....

2021-08-17 | Tracking red squirrels in the Highlands
With temperatures as low as -15°C, steep hills, bogs, fallen trees and midges, radio-tracking squirrels in the Highlands has its challenges - but it also has plenty of rewards. A study is being carried to investigate the effect of forestry operations on red squirrels. Asking what do squirrels do when you cut down their trees? Where do they go? Do they all survive? To answer these questions, squirrels are fitted with collars that contain small VHF transmitters, and then tracked before, during and after the forestry operations taking place....

2021-03-23 | Reclaiming Reds: making Knowsley a place for red squirrels
Reclaiming Reds is a recently launched project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It aims to directly connect the public with strategic conservation action to pave the way for red squirrels to thrive once again on the Knowsley Estate and surrounding areas. A green refuge in the heart of a predominantly urban area, the Knowsley Estate has always been home to the native red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris. The estate combines exceptional natural habitats with a concerted effort to manage the landscape in favour of red squirrels....

2021-01-20 | Managing invasive non-native grey squirrels to safeguard our native red squirrels and woodland biodiversity
An invasive non-native species (INNS) is one that has a negative impact on the environment, economy or our health and our way of life. Globally, INNS are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, contributing to 40% of animal extinctions that occurred in the last 400 years.[1] There are 30 invasive non-native animal species listed as a concern in the UK because of their invasiveness and ability to establish successfully, often to the detriment of native species[2]....

2020-11-28 | Red squirrels thrive in Lowther's woods
The Lowther Estate is in the North East Lake District, in Cumbria - the heart of a stronghold for red squirrels - something that is very important to both the estate and landscape. The estate aims to work with nature through the in-house farm and commercial forestry. Lowther’s red squirrels are an important part of the estate’s aims. As a family-owned estate that has practiced forestry for many centuries there is a relationship between the woodlands and the density of squirrels they are able to support....

2020-11-08 | Origami red squirrels raising awareness
Origami is an interactive and fun way to raise awareness of the threats to red squirrel survival and the importance of efforts to save them. While practicing this art of paper folding, people can also enjoy the many therapeutic benefits origami has to offer. The Red Squirrel Origami Project (RSOP) aims to promote red squirrel conservation and raise awareness of declines in the UK population. RSOP is supported by the Sefton Borough of Culture 2020 (Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture for 2020) and Lancashire Wildlife Trust (covering Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside)....

2020-01-20 | Red Squirrel Appreciation Day 2020
Red squirrels are an important part of the UK’s wildlife, but their future is under threat. On Red Squirrel Appreciation Day, 21 January, we look at the issue of ensuring their survival through invasive species management. Introducing non-native species to areas of the world they would not naturally be able to reach is one of the biggest causes of biodiversity loss around the world. Invasive non-native species are among the top five threats to UK wildlife....

2019-12-03 | Great Scottish Squirrel Survey 2019 results
In September this year Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels launched the very first Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, a campaign that encouraged people in Scotland to spend some time enjoying the outdoors while keeping a lookout for tufted ears and bushy tails. In just one week over 600 people took part, submitting 828 verified red and grey squirrel sightings on our website, scottishsquirrels.org.uk. This was a fantastic result for the project – in a more typical week it receives around 180 sightings....

2019-09-23 | Red Squirrel Awareness Week 2019 celebrations
Red squirrel image by Nicholas Box. Red squirrels were once a common sight across the UK, but their numbers severely declined during the 20th Century and active conservation efforts were needed to protect them. Red Squirrel Awareness Week aims to highlight their plight and celebrate the wonderful work of volunteer groups, organisations and projects striving to save them. During this week, 23-29 September, there are activities and events planned by a variety of these important groups and projects in different areas of the UK....