The threatened red squirrel stands its ground
● Surveys show declines stabilising ● Culls of grey squirrels helping
Declines in Scotland’s red squirrels have stabilised and there are signs of a reverse in the trend in some places, according to the latest figures.
A new report from the conservation taskforce Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels shows an overall positive picture for one of the country’s most threatened mammals.
Survey results suggest populations have remained stable over the past year.
The most encouraging reports came from northeast Scotland, where reds have significantly increased their range. There has been a recent flood of sightings increasingly close to Aberdeen city centre.
In Tayside and the central lowlands, the species has held its ground. However, findings in southern Scotland were more mixed. While reds have successfully retained their territories in most parts, none were spotted in Berwickshire during the count.
The key survival threat is from the alien grey squirrel, which was introduced from the US in the 19th century.
Scotland is the UK stronghold for reds, the nation’s only indigenous squirrel, hosting around three-quarters of the total population. Estimates suggest around 120,000 live north of the Border. But they are outnumbered two to one by greys, which have been spreading northwards.
Greys out-compete their smaller cousins for food and nesting sites, as well as transmitting disease. They carry the squirrelpox virus, which causes them no harm but can be fatal for reds.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, which was awarded a £2.4 million National Lottery grant last year, is led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Partners include Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates and Red Squirrel Survival Trust.
The team, assisted by a network of volunteers, has been monitoring squirrel populations in the parts of the country where reds are most at risk from invading greys since 2011.
Measures to help safeguard vulnerable red colonies include culling greys. The activity has sparked outrage among some animal lovers, but conservationists believe such extreme measures are necessary to save reds from potential extinction.
Project manager Dr Mel Tonkin said: “In Dumfries and Galloway red squirrels continue to do well but are threatened by increasing records of grey squirrels.
“It is vital that the work we do here is stepped up to make sure these red squirrel populations remain healthy.”
Mary-anne Collis, red squirrel conservation officer for Argyll, the Trossachs and Stirling, said: “In the central lowlands red squirrels are holding their ground, and as a result we’ve started to see them in areas where they haven’t been seen for a long time. This is particularly noticeable to the south and east of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which is now predominantly a red-only zone.”