Red squirrels: a giant leap

Scotland’s native red squirrel population is under threat. Non-native grey squirrels out-compete reds for food and in many areas carry squirrel-pox – almost always lethal to reds.

But, if we continue to work together, we can create a sustainable future for red squirrels in Scotland. Securing their future is our long-term commitment.

Recently, our efforts have been given a real boost with a wonderful opportunity that we are well placed to utilise. However, we must act quickly to protect and expand our surviving red squirrel populations.

Your support is more important than ever!

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given initial approval for almost £2.5 million to help deliver our red squirrel conservation programme from 2017 to 2022. This is obviously fantastic news. It shows the scale of the work still to be done – but also shows great confidence in our strategy.

To get us closer to releasing this game-changing funding from HLF and fulfilling our vision, we must raise the £40,000 needed each year to complete the funding. Every precious gift towards our annual £40k target helps unlock this vital £2.46 million from HLF.

If we work together, we can secure a sustainable future for red squirrels in Scotland.

To save Scotland’s red squirrels we need to act now, please give what you can today.

Every gift gets us closer to unleashing HLF’s funding. Your gift can make the difference and help our ambitious plans to save Scotland’s red squirrels.

Together we can win the fight to save Scotland’s red squirrels

The UK’s red squirrel population has crashed by 75% since the 1950s; but the good news is that since 2009, the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project has been working to halt the decline.

The even better news is that we have firm evidence that the decline can be reversed – by carefully prioritising our activities, we’re starting to see red squirrel populations recover. Reds are returning to areas where they hadn’t been seen for many years. Together we‘re beginning to win the fight to save them, but we can’t lose momentum.

When there is so much to be done, you may not think your gift will go very far; but right now, because it also helps unlock such significant sums from the Heritage Lottery Fund, your support is absolutely vital.

You can play your part in turning around the fortune of one of Scotland’s favourite mammals!

You make the difference

The progress we have made so far in saving Scotland’s red squirrels just wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of supporters, like you, who care about Scotland’s wildlife.

People have turned their passion for red squirrels into action and have played a huge role in the project’s success.

Volunteering to host trap-loans in gardens;
Dedicating almost 2,500 hours a year helping to survey and monitor red and grey squirrel populations across the country;
Reporting an incredible 82,000 squirrel sightings to help inform our work;

And since the project began, an amazing 2,548 supporters have played a vital role by generously donating towards our work to save Scotland’s native squirrel populations.

Slowly but surely, we’re combatting the threat posed by the non-native grey squirrel.

Your gift can help save Scotland’s red squirrels

Every gift counts toward our target and could help unlock almost £2.5 million from HLF.

Your gift really could make the difference.

£550 – could pay for one week of expert advice and co-ordination for landowners and volunteers

£120 – could pay for a camera trap to monitor squirrel populations

£60 – could pay for five squirrelpox tests

£30 – could pay for a bag of red squirrel feed

Donate now

We have a tried and tested plan for the future

It’s hard to find anyone who isn’t enchanted by red squirrels – one of Scotland’s most popular native mammals. Nine out of ten Scots agree – red squirrels help to make our countryside special; but they’re under real threat.

Red squirrel numbers have fallen drastically since the introduction of the larger non-native grey squirrel. Greys are able to out-compete reds for food. Many grey squirrels also carry Squirrelpox – a virus lethal to reds but to which the greys are immune.

Slowly but surely, we’re combatting the threat posed by the non-native grey squirrel. The experience gained by staff and volunteers over the past seven years has fed into a concrete plan of action that we are confident can secure the future of red squirrels in Scotland.