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Future of the red squirrel
08/12/2008
A new project to stop the expansion of grey squirrel numbers in the north of Scotland will launch early next year.
Environment Minister Michael Russell heard about the project, the ultimate aim of which is to ensure a prosperous future for Scotland's native red squirrel, on a visit to Banchory today.
The project - Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels - is a joint effort between Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA).
As well as displacing red squirrels which its more aggressive feeding habits, grey squirrels carry squirrelpox - harmless to them but lethal to reds.
Mr Russell said:
"The red squirrel is one of our most beautiful and valuable native species and Scotland is one of the few sanctuaries it has left.
"Since its introduction to the British Isles, the grey squirrel has gradually taken over with its more aggressive feeding habits, meaning that the red is now endangered.
"To make matters worse, squirrelpox, almost endemic in the grey population has spread alarmingly across southern Scotland and we must act. We have only a short time to save the red squirrel from the brink of extinction.
"This project, like the Red Squirrels in South Scotland (RSSS), which I launched in Dumfries and Galloway earlier this year aims to stop the march of the grey into the north and taking over areas currently home to the red.
"Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust Scottish Rural Property and Business Association have shown genuine vision in coming together to save the red squirrel.
"Like all Scots I am hopeful that projects like these will see Scotland's red squirrels thrive once again and ensure that future generations are able to enjoy them."
This is a three year project, planned to launch in February 2009, which aims to secure red squirrel populations in all areas they currently occupy in Scotland and provide a basis for successful expansion in the future.
In Scotland the distribution of grey squirrels is focussed at present on the Central Lowlands and increasingly across south Scotland. However, these populations continue to expand northwards in Perthshire and Angus and westwards in the Loch Lomond National Park area, thus threatening red squirrel populations in the Highlands and Argyll that have never been exposed to grey squirrel competition. Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels aims to check this advance and reverse it where possible.
The project aims to push grey squirrels back along their key incursion routes to manageable "pinch points" where long-term control measures might be more sustainable and more likely to achieve the long-term security of red squirrels.
Total project costs are estimated to be £1.45 million.
Project Officers will work with landowners to help access resources through the Scotland Rural Development Programme for grey squirrel control. FCS will also be undertaking grey control on the public forest estate as part of their ongoing operations.