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Blog - grey squirrels

Rehoming red squirrels

Rehoming red squirrels

by Chris, 31 March, 2017, 6 comments

There are a number of established red squirrel populations in Scotland, and there are other suitable forested areas where they could live.  However, they are unlikely to make their way to forested areas near Kinlochewe and Plockton because they avoid crossing large areas of open ground (habitat fragmentation ?, need for wildlife corridors), and travel between trees.   Consequently, the charity "Trees for Life" has developed The Red Squirrel Reintroduction project.   Their aim is to establish ten 'new' populations in the north west Highlands - in order to increase the number and the range of the red squirrel. Read more...
Red Squirrels Find Sanctuary in my Wood

Red Squirrels Find Sanctuary in my Wood

by Peter Trimming, 2 February, 2017, 2 comments

I purchased Snighow Wood, in Wasdale, with the intention of maintaining it as a wildlife habitat; specifically red squirrels. Formerly occupied by red squirrels, greys had moved in some years previously. The timing of my purchase (end of December 2015) was fortunate, as greys had been (largely) removed from the area about a year previously, by the West Lakes Squirrel Initiative. With the choice of three plots of woodland, I chose the one which I thought most suitable for the squirrels, and requiring the least amount of work. There was hazel to be coppiced, rhododendrons to be tackled and paths to be cleared or created! Read more...
The black squirrel project

The black squirrel project

by Lewis, 31 January, 2012, 6 comments

A black squirrel was first reported (in the wild) back in 1912 - in either Bedfordshire  or Hertfordshire , according which article you read!  That particular black squirrel had probably escaped from the 'menagerie' of a 'well to do' collector.  Victorians, and to a lesser extent Edwardians, were great collectors of things - both living and dead.  Vast collections of flowers, shells, butterflies, insects - were amassed by people like Charles Bailey and James Cosmo Melvill  . The present populations of black squirrels are probably descendants of the 'escapees' / introductions from this one source and this perhaps explains why the populations are still relatively localised.  By comparison,  the grey squirrel was introduced to the U.K. on a number of occasions and hence its more widespread distribution. Read more...
Red squirrels in Scotland.

Red squirrels in Scotland.

by Dr Dick Morris, 28 July, 2011, 8 comments

Threats to red squirrels. The red squirrel is a delightfully charismatic species, which was once a common native over the whole of the UK, but in England is now restricted to a few small areas.  In Scotland, the situation is better, but even here there are only about 120 000 individuals. They represent 75% of the total UK population and are under serious threat, so any actions to protect them are to be welcomed.  There are two key threats, changes to the woodlands in which they live, and the so far relentless spread of the similar, but larger American grey squirrel. Read more...
Squirrel pox

Squirrel pox

by Lewis, 17 May, 2007, 14 comments

As reported in the woodlands blog last year, the red squirrel population in the UK is under threat. One of the threats is the parapox virus. This virus seemingly does little harm to grey squirrels (who act as a reservoir of infection); but red squirrels, once infected, develop skin ulcers, Read more...
Damage by Grey Squirrels

Damage by Grey Squirrels

by Mike Thompson, 31 October, 2006, 14 comments

The grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is found throughout England, Wales and parts of Scotland. It was introduced between 1876 and 1930 from the States/Canada, probably on a number of occasions. In many parts of the UK they have displaced the native Red Squirrel. Grey squirrels eat an amazing variety of food – bark, buds, flowers, nuts, berries, seeds and fruit from many different species of shrubs and trees (and therein lies the problem). Read more...
Red squirrel, grey squirrel

Red squirrel, grey squirrel

by Lewis, 26 September, 2006, 57 comments

Britain has two types of squirrel, but only one of them – the red squirrel – is actually native to the country. The grey squirrel was introduced into the UK about 130 years ago. There are now some 2.5 million grey squirrels in the UK, compared to 160,000 native red squirrels. The majority of the red squirrels are now found in Scotland, Wales and North East England, with smaller populations in places like the Read more...

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