Scots urged to help save red squirrels,as first nationwide project is launched

Scots are being urged to show their love for one of the UK’s favourite native species this Valentine’s Day, as the first nationally co-ordinated attempt to save the red squirrel is officially launched today (10 February).

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is a three-year project to protect existing red squirrel populations run by Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA).

Backed by Environment Minister, Mike Russell, and the Scottish Government, the project aims to encourage and support landowners to undertake woodland management techniques to help red squirrels thrive alongside a strategic approach to grey squirrel control. Today the organisers are appealing to the public for support to ensure the project is as successful as possible.

Mel Tonkin, SSRS Project Manager, based at SWT, said: “The red squirrel is the UK’s only native squirrel but it is in danger of becoming extinct on mainland Scotland if action is not taken to protect it. Only 121,000 reds are now thought to remain in Scotland as numbers have rapidly declined due to the presence and spread of the grey squirrel, a species introduced from North America in the 19th Century.

“Our project aims to stop the decline of Scotland’s red squirrels and help them expand across the country in the future, but we have a huge task ahead of us. Our success will depend on the level of support we receive from everyone across Scotland – we can only do what our funding allows.

“We are appealing to the public to show their love for red squirrels by pledging their support to our project at www.swt.org.uk. You can sign up to receive e-updates and donate online today to help us do all we can to save this cherished native species.”

Speaking at the project’s official launch in Perthshire today, Minister for the Environment, Mike Russell, said: “The red squirrel is one of our most beautiful and valuable native species. Therefore its loss would be absolutely unforgiveable.

“Scotland is one of the few sanctuaries the species has left with the grey squirrel gradually taking over, with its more aggressive feeding habits and the spread of squirrelpox.

“Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a true partnership organisation and I am hopeful that its activity will see the red squirrels able to thrive once again in this country and ensure that future generations are able to enjoy them.”

Today’s launch saw over 80 delegates travel from across Scotland unite in support of the project and look forward to the beginning of project activities, scheduled to commence in April.

Project Manager Dr Tonkin explained more: “Our project will undertake selective woodland management, working closely with landowners to develop habitats where red squirrels can flourish, but this activity alone is not enough to save Scotland’s reds in the short-term. We have to take immediate action to tackle the main problem for red squirrels – the greys.

Ron McDonald, Head of Policy and Advice for SNH continued: “The grey squirrel poses two problems to red squirrel survival. Firstly, it out-competes the red for food and habitat, resulting in high mortality rates among young red squirrels, so numbers tend to decline rapidly where greys are present. Secondly, the grey squirrel is the key agent in the spread of Squirrelpox virus – a disease which has no effect on greys but which consigns reds to an unpleasant death within 14 days.

“Grey squirrel control activity will be kept to the minimum level required to protect our reds. It will be focused on the key routes being used by grey squirrels to spread north. Greys have already displaced red squirrels from most of England, Wales and Scotland’s central belt, but much of the north still remains grey-free. With sightings of greys becoming more frequent in northern Perthshire and Angus, and a population of grey squirrels already established in Aberdeen, it is imperative that we act quickly to protect red squirrels north of the central belt and prevent the grey’s further migration.”

SSRS will complement Red Squirrels in South Scotland (RSSS), a project which has been operating in the Scottish Borders since 2000. The South Scotland project aims to contain squirrelpox, which has already spread over the border from England, to stop the disease spreading in the south and further north.

Stuart Brooks, Director of Conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “Our critics’ may claim that it is not necessary to control greys to save the red squirrel, and that the reds can be saved through other solutions such as habitat management and the development of a squirrelpox vaccine. If this were the case we would certainly not be embarking on our planned course of action. I can understand and empathise with those people who do not like the prospect of killing wild animals, but it is disingenuous to say that there are viable alternative solutions to saving the red squirrel in Scotland. Work is underway on a vaccine for squirrelpox but it is not around the corner and habitat improvements are a key component of our longer term strategy. To do nothing now will certainly consign our native squirrel to a painful and lingering death.”

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For additional red squirrel images, footage or maps showing red and grey squirrel distribution and our project area boundaries, please contact Nicola McGovern.

For more information, please contact:

Nicola McGovern
PR Officer, Scottish Wildlife Trust
Tel: 0131 312 4742

Notes to Editors

• Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is an effort to stop the decline of red squirrel populations in key areas of Scotland north of the central belt and to improve conditions for viable red squirrel populations across Scotland. It is a partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association. It is part of Scotland’s Species Action Framework, which sets out a strategic approach to species management in Scotland.” For more information, visit www.swt.org.uk.
• The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a registered charity. It is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 33,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 wildlife reserves Scotland-wide. www.swt.org.uk
• Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is the Scottish Government’s statutory advisor on the conservation, enhancement, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of the natural heritage. For further information on SNH, please visit www.snh.org.uk. SNH is a funding partner of the project.
• Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) serves as the forestry directorate of the Scottish Government, advising on and implementing forestry policy and managing the national forest estate. FCS is ensuring that the national forest estate plays its part in delivering the aims of project Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels.
• The SRPBA represents the role and interests of those involved with rural property and businesses connected with the land. We embody a proactive approach to property, business and enterprise in rural Scotland. For further information visit www.srpba.com
• Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels will work alongside Red Squirrels in South Scotland project and other local and independent red squirrel groups already in existence in Scotland.
• Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is expected to cost almost £1.3m over 3 years. The funding partners are currently SNH, Forestry Commission and SWT. Between them they have pledged £0.7m, leaving a further £0.6m to find. SWT is leading the campaign to raise the remaining funds.
• The Red Squirrels in South Scotland project was started in August 2000 by two local squirrel groups who joined forces under the Southern Uplands Partnership. The project has established an excellent network of foresters, landowners, local enthusiasts, agencies, communities and farmers. It aims to prevent the Squirrelpox virus spreading and establish a control zone across the south of Scotland. SWT employs the Project Officer and sits on the project’s steering group.