The people of Aberdeen have been invited to do their bit to help save the iconic red squirrel.
The popular ‘Text a Squirrel’ scheme is running for the next two weeks (Saturday 24 March-Saturday 7 April).
The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project wants people living in or visiting the Silver City to text them when they see a red or grey squirrel, with details of where they spotted it.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has recently finished its first three-year phase. The second phase will begin on the 1st April and for the first time will cover the whole of Scotland, encompassing red squirrel populations in the North East, Tayside, the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and the Borders.
The project aims to save the red squirrel by controlling the non-native grey squirrel population and reducing the effect of deadly squirrel pox.
Commenting, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project Manager, Dr. Mel Tonkin said:
“The popular Text a Squirrel scheme really helps our monitoring efforts in Aberdeen.
“Red squirrels have been spotted in parts of Aberdeen that they never have before, such as Hazelhead, Garthdee, Milltimber and right in the city centre.
“Just last week we have had the first indications of red squirrels taking up residence in Bieldside. One householder told us he has seen them in his garden for the first time in twenty years.
“Aberdeen is one of the last cities in the UK to have a population of these iconic creatures. Finding out exactly where they are is a crucial part of saving them for the future.
“If we don’t act now, the red squirrel could be lost from Scotland in a generation. The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project has recently been renewed for another two years, which is positive.
“However, we aim to raise almost £150,000 over the next two years to achieve all of our objectives in the Aberdeenshire area. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is urgently seeking donations and grants from anyone who wishes to see our red squirrel population protected for generations to come.”
If you see a red or grey squirrel in Aberdeen between Saturday 24 March and Saturday 7 April please report your sighting by texting the word RED or GREY, followed by where it was spotted – which could simply be a postcode, park name, street name or six-figure OS grid reference, followed by your name – to 88802.
Aberdeen has an atypical situation with both red and grey squirrels still residing in close proximity within the city centre, which is why the text appeal initiative is a suitable tool to track squirrel distribution in this area.
You can also report squirrel sightings anywhere in Scotland online. For further information on the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project, visit www.scottishsquirrels.org.uk.