Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels (SSRS)

SSRS is the first national attempt to save Scotland’s only native squirrel species, the red squirrel.  
This three year project was launched in February 2009 and aims to halt the decline of red squirrel
populations in key areas of Scotland and improve habitat conditions to allow red squirrels to thrive and increase in number.  

Here at Blair Drummond, we are working with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and SSRS project by determining the presence of red or grey squirrels in the Safari Park.   Four feeding boxes are positioned around the park.   These boxes have sticky pads located at the entrance to the feeder that collect the tail hairs of any squirrels that enter the box.   The hairs are then examined under a microscope to determine the species of squirrel present.  

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Red Squirrels are native to Britain and were once found all over the country.   Grey squirrels are classed as an invasive non-native species in the UK.   The spread of the grey squirrel is the main threat to red squirrel survival and the main reason for their extensive decline.  

Grey squirrels compete more successfully than red squirrels for food and habitat, they are larger and can digest seeds with high tannin content and so they can access a more abundant food supply than the red squirrels.   As a result, grey squirrels in an area occupied by red squirrels can cause reduced breeding and a decline in survival rates of the reds.  

Grey squirrels also carry squirrelpox virus (SQPV), which causes severe disease and mortality in red squirrels but does not affect the grey carriers.   At present SQPV in Scotland is confined to 4 main river corridors in South Scotland: the Liddel, the Esk, the Nith and the Annan.

For more information and to see how you can help, visit the SSRS website.