This is the headline of a BBC News article (reported on 16th February 2010) that arises from theSaving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) conference held recently in Perth. For example, there are signs of a revival of red squirrels in parts of NE Scotland and it is believed that controlling the grey squirrel intruders is having a positive effect.
A recent study by scientists from the British Trust for Ornithology and Natural England (also see Publications page under Permanent articles) found no evidence that grey squirrels have any significant impact of woodland birds in England. This puts to rest the long held view by some that grey squirrels have been responsible for the marked decline […]
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is hosting the Northern Ireland Squirrel Forum on the 24 November 2009. The forum has been inactive for several years but there is renewed enthusiasm to conserve the red squirrel in Ireland. For further details, please go to: www.ni-environment.gov.uk/biodiversity/northern_ireland_squirrel_forum.htm The advance of the grey squirrel across Northern Ireland has […]
Anna Lisa Signorile, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, SL5 7PY, UK or Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY The American Grey Squirrel is an alien invasive species that has been released many times in several areas across the world for recreational purposes. In Britain, following multiple introductions from the USA and […]
Silvia Flaherty, Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP. Tel. 0131 650 9172 The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), the only squirrel species native to the UK, is now considered endangered, is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and is also under legal protection. The future of red squirrel conservation will […]
It has been reported that a Svynnerton’s bush squirrel (Paraxerus vexillarius) was seen killing a fruit bat of the species Epomophorus wahlbergi in the canopy of Mwofwomero Forest, in the Rubeho Mountains, Tanzania. It is not clear what caused the squirrel to attack the bat. This unusual siting was reported on the BBC Earth News.
Melissa Marr A new study has started at the Insitute of Zoology, London on whether inbreeding affects the disease status of squirrelpox virus in red squirrels.
Luc Wauters The Alpine Squirrel Population Ecology Research project celebrates 10 years. Run by Italian scientists, the project is building a fascinating long-term data set on the population dynamics and food resources of red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris living in montane and subalpine conifer forests. There are new opportunities for post-graduate biologists to join in the research programme. […]
HRH The Prince of Wales launched the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) on 3rd April 2009 at Levens Hall, Near Kendall in Cumbria, NW England. Prince Charles is a patron of the Trust which is a UK charity established to secure the conservation and protection of red squirrels in the UK.
The concept of strongholds form part of the Scottish Government’s strategy to conserve the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, in Scotland. Forestry Commission Scotland sought views on the proposals in a consulation exercise that closed on 26th June 2009. Details of the consultation can be found on the FC website.