ANIMALS’ ACROBATICS DELIGHT WILDLIFE WATCHERS

Squirrels have been snapped performing acrobatic stunts in a wooded area near Doune.

The images were captured by staff at Argaty Red Kites after they introduced a new squirrel hide from which keen photographers can take action shots of the small mammals in action.

Red squirrels were captured flying through the air as well as appearing to posing for pictures, one staring into a photographer’s camera lens.

The new small single-person shelter allows nature enthusiasts to sit and wait and take pictures of the squirrels leaping from tree-to-tree. The new structure was formally opened this week.

Tom Bowser, owner of Argaty Red Kites has in recent years undertaken a number of steps to help boost the red squirrel population there.

Following the introduction of the new hide, Mr Bowser said: “We already had an existing one which was great for spotting ground running squirrels, but the new one gives you a different angle and we’ve already been getting great shots of the red squirrels jumping around.”

In March last year, the Observer told how an attempt was underway to try to curb speeding at the facility in a bid to save the red squirrel population there.

In the previous 18 months, 14 red squirrels died, 13 of which have been found by the roadside leading up to the visitor attraction.

In July, approval was granted to erect signs warning drivers of the danger of red squirrels on the road and there have been no further casualties since.

Red squirrels are Scotland’s only native squirrel species and populations have seriously declined, with only around 120,000 remaining in Scotland today.

In some places, they have not been seen for many years.

For 23 years, Argaty Red Kites has provided a safe haven for red kites and have played a key role in re–establishing the red squirrel.

Red squirrels are under threat in Scotland due to the spread of non–native grey squirrels, which carry the fatal squirrelpox virus.

The virus infects red squirrels and can cause them to die a slow painful death over a two-week period.