Working to increase Red Squirrels in Southern Scotland
Red squirrels are one of our most iconic native species but are threatened with extinction in the UK. Now fewer than 300,000 red squirrels remain in the UK, compared to over 2.7 million non native grey squirrels. Reds have disappeared from 60 % of their natural habitats in the last 13 years.
Red squirrels are endangered in the UK due to the spread of grey squirrels, which outcompete them for food and habitat. Grey squirrels can also carry the lethal squirrel pox virus, which is always fatal to red squirrels but doesn’t harm greys.
Scotland remains the stronghold for red squirrels, holding over 80 % of the UK population, with isolated populations of red squirrels remaining in northern England, Anglesey and on the Isle of White.
RUN is one of the conservation delivery partners of the Red Squirrel Recovery Network project, which is working with a network of Red Squirrel Volunteer Groups and other key stakeholders to increase the numbers of red squirrels across southern Scotland and northern England through a five year Heritage Lottery project.
Distribution Changes of Red and Grey Squirrels in the UK since 1945
In the UK, invasive non native grey squirrels now vastly outnumber native red squirrels, with an estimated 2.5 to 2.7 million greys compared to fewer than 287,000 reds. Native red squirrels are now endangered and largely confined to Scotland (roughly 80% of the population) the Isle of White, Anglesey, and parts of north Wales and northern England.
Red Squirrel Volunteer Groups:
A Lifeline for Red Squirrels
Volunteer Red Squirrel Groups are the lifeblood of red squirrel conservation across the UK. They are the boots on the ground, working day in and day out to protect our endangered red squirrels and to control invasive grey squirrels.
Red Squirrel Groups rely entirely on volunteers to carry out conservation work. Some of their activities include:
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Raising awareness amongst the public about the plight of red squirrels
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Giving talks and film shows to community groups and schools
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Monitoring red squirrel populations and encouraging the public to report sightings of both red and grey squirrels
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Fundraising to support their conservation work
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Loaning traps to the public and landowners for grey squirrel control
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Providing support and training to those who wish to undertake grey squirrel control
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Working with landowners and land managers to keep red squirrel populations safe.
There are now 16 Red Squirrel Groups covering the whole of southern Scotland, stretching from the west coast through Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders to the east coast. There are also new Red Squirrel Groups springing up in Ayrshire.
There are many ways that YOU can help.
The Red Squirrel Groups need more volunteers and would love to hear from you! Read on to discover the different ways you can help.
How YOU can help save Red Squirrels in Scotland
If you live in, or are visiting southern Scotland, there are numerous ways you can help red squirrels.
This list is just a starting point of how you can help!
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REPORT any squirrels you see, whether red or grey, dead or alive. All squirrel sightings seen anywhere in Scotland can be reported on the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels website
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VOLUNTEER with your local Red Squirrel Group. They will be really pleased to hear from you and let you know how you can help red squirrels in your local area
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DONATE small or large donations are critical to the survival of these Red Squirrel Groups who are often run by a handful of committed people
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HOLD A FUNDRAISING EVENT OR GIVE A TALK to your local community group or school. The Red Squirrel Groups will be happy to provide you with materials for such an event.
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HOST A GREY SQUIRREL TRAP IN YOUR GARDEN: Contact your local Red Squirrel Group for equipment and guidance
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BECOME A RED SQUIRREL GUARDIAN: be an extra pair of eyes and ears for your local red squirrels, if you are aware of trees being felled or cleared during the red squirrel breeding season or a busy road with lots of red squirrel casualties please report these to your local Red Squirrel Group or contact us.
Threats to Red Squirrels
The greatest threat to the survival of red squirrels is the non native grey squirrel. Introduced to the UK in 1876, grey squirrels have since spread rapidly and carry the deadly squirrel pox virus. While grey squirrels act as a reservoir for the virus and show no symptoms, red squirrels become severely ill within days of exposure. The disease is extremely debilitating; causing lesions and blindness and is always fatal to red squirrels. Without intervention, squirrel pox can wipe out local red squirrel populations with devastating speed. If you find a lethargic or infected red squirrel or a dead red squirrel (that has lesions) please report it to your local red squirrel group immediately. Grey squirrels are around twice the size of red squirrels and outcompete them for food and habitat. Their larger body size, more dominant behaviour, and ability to digest a wider range of food sources give them a competitive advantage. As a result, red squirrels are pushed into marginal habitats where survival becomes harder. Across much of the UK, this competition has led to the complete loss of many red squirrel populations. Other threats to red squirrels include: forestry operations (particularly within the breeding season); domestic animals (including dogs and cats) predating on them and red squirrels being killed on our roads. Red squirrels also have several natural predators, including large raptors and pine marten. However, studies show that pine martens can significantly reduce grey squirrel numbers, as greys are slower and spend more time on the ground and have not co-evolved with pine marten to perceive them as a threat. Where pine martens are present, grey populations often decline, allowing red squirrel numbers to recover and expand their range.