By
DAVID ROSS
SCOTLAND’S native red squirrel population appears to be staging a fightback against the remorseless progress of the alien grey squirrel.
The reds, which are smaller than their grey cousins, have recently been spotted more frequently in Perthshire and for the first time at a location in the north-east of Scotland.
Now conservationists are reporting growing confidence in their bid to protect Scotland’s remaining red squirrel population, which now number only around 121,000.
The news comes as Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, the largest co-ordinated project to protect reds in Scotland, marks its second year in operation.
The project largely focuses on stopping the greys spreading further by culling them at strategic points.
Grey squirrel controllers in Tayside, the Trossachs, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire trap the invaders, put them in a hessian sack and dispatch them with a single blow to the head, in accordance with animal welfare guidelines. Figures on how many have been killed are not available.
The greys were introduced to Britain a little over 100 years ago and they have gradually encroached on the reds’ territory as they out-compete them in the hunt for food.
Mel Tonkin, project manager of the conservation effort, said: “This project is the first strategic approach to red squirrel conservation ever to be attempted in Scotland.
“By channelling resources to priority areas in our aim to protect red squirrels by halting the spread of grey squirrels, we are making encouraging progress.
“Most excitingly, since the start of the project, red squirrel sightings are being reported to us more frequently in some areas, such as Dunkeld, Meigle and Alyth, and red squirrels have also been spotted in other areas, like Stoneywood near Aberdeen, for the first time.
“Another encouraging achievement in the last two years has been our success in setting up networks of local landowners working to control grey squirrels in target zones.
“More than 300 landowners are now involved with our project, helping us maintain larger control boundaries and monitor squirrel distribution. We have also helped many of these landowners receive funding from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.”
Jonny Hughes, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s director of conservation, said: “This project has forged positive partnerships between land managers and conservationists, so we now have a co-ordinated approach to red squirrel conservation. We hope that the partnerships established through this project will provide a lasting legacy and continue to protect red squirrels.”
Some of the best places to see red squirrels are Carnie Woods near Aberdeen, Haddo House, Aberdeenshire, Queen Elizabeth Forest near Aberfoyle, and Blair Atholl in Perthshire.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association.
