Red squirrel (and grey squirrel) - update

The following are brief summaries of some of the action that we and our partners have done since the Species Action Framework was launched. They're in chronological order, with the most recent updates at the top of the page.

2011

May 2011 - Now in the final year of the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels Project, work is underway to collate data from 50 grey squirrel control sites in North East Scotland.  The number of sites has been calculated to provide a statistically robust result and is the most intensive study of it's kind in the UK.  As well as information on the distribution of red and grey squirrels, the work will also help to answer questions about whether this can be delivered in the longer term through a combination of volunteers and landowners (funded by SRDP) or whether more dedicated staff would be required.

The study is scheduled to finish in September with the results being analysed towards the end of the calendar year.  These will be included in the final year report for the Project.  Further information on the Project can be obtained from the Project website  .

2010

June 2010 - Scottish Natural Heritage published Protecting Scotland's Red Squirrels: The consultation response  .  This document sets out the results of a 12 week public consultation, undertaken in 2009, seeking views on a strategy of grey squirrel control to support red squirrel conservation. The strategy sought views on whether the actions were adequate and whether suitable locations had been targeted.

The message was clear: Most respondents supported grey squirrel control to prevent both the further spread of the species and the squirrelpox virus.  Many respondents also felt that targeted control should be a temporary measure only and that longer-term methods, such as habitat management to favour red squirrels, or chemical sterilisation of grey squirrels, were still needed to help red squirrels.

Respondents felt that defending the best areas for red squirrels should be a top priority and that grey squirrel control must combine with managing red squirrel strongholds for greater long-term benefits.  Both of these principles underlie the work already underway to protect red squirrels in Scotland.

The document sets out seven actions which Scottish Natural Heritage will pursue to develop the recommendations of the consultation.

2009

September 2009 - The South Scotland Red Squirrel project welcomed the involvement of the Red Squirrels in South Scotland  project and the Red Squirrel Survival Trust    in helping to guide conservation action under the project. Close collaboration between these groups will greatly improve the conservation opportunities for co-ordinated action across the geographic range of the species in Scotland.

June 2009 - Scottish Natural Heritage launched a public consultation seeking views on a proposal to target support for grey squirrel control in areas where this would deliver maximum benefit for red squirrels. The consultation was open for 12 weeks and closed on 1 September. Results are currently being collated and a report is expected to be published by December 2009.

March 2009 - Forestry Commission Scotland launched a public consultation seeking views on a list of 18 proposed sites to be managed as red squirrel strongholds. The consultation was open for a 12 week period, closing in June. Results are being collated and a report is expected to be published by December 2009.

10 February 2009 - The Scottish Wildlife Trust launched the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels  project at Dunkeld. This is a partnership project with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Rural and Properties Business Association. This project will work to halt the spread of grey squirrels in north and central Scotland, and will co-operate with the Red Squirrels in South Scotland project to contain the squirrelpox virus in its current area. The project will encourage woodland management to favour red squirrels as well as raising awareness and support for their long-term conservation.

2008

21 August 2008 - Forestry Commission Scotland launched three species action notes, including one for red squirrel  . The species action note sets out in detail the Forestry Commission Scotland work for red squirrel as part of its overall biodiversity programme published in 'Woods for Nature: our Biodiversity Programme 2008-2011' . 

The red squirrel Species Action Framework implementation plan  summarises action agreed by all relevant partners, including Forestry Commission Scotland. The new Forestry Commission Scotland species action note for red squirrel explains in more depth how Forestry Commission Scotland will contribute to this overall effort.

9 April 2008 - Work continues to implement The Scottish Red Squirrel Action Plan 2006 - 2011.  Work was commissioned jointly by Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland, in July 2006, to identify a suite of red squirrel stronghold sites which provide large and sufficiently viable areas of woodland to retain red squirrels even in the face of further spread of grey squirrels. The first analysis was completed in January 2006 and this is currently subject to review. It is anticipated that a list of candidate strongholds will be refined following consultation with key landowners and interest groups and published by Scottish Natural Heritage later in 2008.

The Scottish Squirrel Survey, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, has also continued to collect records and, as of March 2008, has approximately 30,000 records of red and grey squirrels collated in Scotland since 2000.

Support has been given to the Scottish Government to help refine development of the Scottish Rural Development Programme to ensure the inclusion of financial support for grey squirrel control in strategic areas.

Squirrelpox virus continues to present a significant risk to red squirrels in East Roxburghshire/West Dumfriesshire and Scottish Natural Heritage continues to support two Grey Squirrel Control Officers to minimise this and the potential for further spread of the virus. We continue to work with the Moredun Institute to clarify the current geographic spread of the virus and support them in their work to identify routes of transmission, both between grey squirrels and, potentially, to red squirrels.

Scottish Natural Heritage initiated support for grey squirrel control in Aberdeenshire to address the threat of further spread of grey squirrels in Deeside.

Scottish Natural Heritage contributed to investigation of immunocontraception as a means of controlling the grey squirrel population. This work is in the early stages and requires considerable further development.

Scottish Natural Heritage funded a research contract to review methods of humane despatch of grey squirrels. This will provide practical guidance to operators currently involved in grey squirrel control to ensure compliance with animal welfare requirements.

The need for dedicated support for Red Squirrel Conservation Officers was assessed by August 2006 and plans are currently being developed (through an Scottish Natural Heritage/ Scottish Wildlife Trust partnership) to establish a pan-Scotland red squirrel conservation project. It is anticipated that the initial framework for this will be agreed by summer 2008 and implemented in 2008/09 subject to available funding.

Two meetings of the Scottish Squirrel Group were held to co-ordinate activities across Scotland, and one meeting of the UK Group was hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage.