How You Can Help
Threats to red squirrel survival include competition for food and habitat with the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), but the biggest problem that they now face in the south of Scotland is the deadly Squirrelpox virus which is carried by grey squirrels moving north from England.
Report Squirrel Sightings
Squirrel monitoring programmes help us to collect information on the distribution of red and grey squirrels in south Scotland, allowing us to identify areas of importance where habitat management or grey squirrel control will benefit red squirrel populations.
Control Grey Squirrels
- The grey squirrel control program helps us to reduce the numbers of grey squirrels in south Scotland that are competing with red squirrels for food and acting as carriers of the deadly Squirrelpox virus. If you would like to help protect red squirrels you can join our Trap Loan Scheme.
Apply for SRDP Funding
The new Scottish Rural Development Program (SRDP) is a vital tool in the grey squirrel control effort. Land owners can apply for grants to cover the cost of large scale daily control efforts on their property and we will assist and guide their applications. To find out more about SRDP funding you can visit the Scottish Government website or contact us
‘If the public and private sector can pull together, if enough of us care, together we can save one of Scotland and the UK’s most charismatic mammals – our red squirrel.’
