What action needs to be taken to protect remaining strong red squirrel populations in north Scotland?
To effectively protect remaining strong red squirrel populations in north Scotland, we must tackle the main threat to the future survival of red squirrels today; the grey squirrel. The arrival of grey squirrels in an area occupied by red squirrels tends to cause reduced red squirrel breeding and survival rates leading to a gradual decline in their numbers. The prevention of grey squirrel spread is the only solution in the short-term to help red squirrels survive. Working to halt the decline of red squirrel populations in key areas of north Scotland, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) aims to prevent further grey squirrel spread across north Scotland. This involves the delivery of a strategic grey squirrel management plan and a programme of targeted grey squirrel control which focuses on i) establishing protective perimeters around existing red squirrel populations and ii) halting further spread of grey squirrels in north Scotland by controlling movements in identified ‘pinch points
