Latest news with #redSquirrels
Telegraph
18-06-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
How red squirrels are fighting back against their grey cousins
Red squirrels are staging a comeback after being eliminated by their grey cousins, a study has suggested. A resurgence in pine martens, the natural predator of squirrels, has had a greater impact on the greys, which are not native to the British Isles and do not know to fear them. Red squirrels, which evolved alongside pine martens for centuries, can easily avoid the predators and become more wary when one is nearby, the study found, making the 'predator naive' greys easier prey. The reds have started to thrive as a result, despite increasing numbers of wild squirrel hunters. Red squirrels are native to the UK but have suffered significant population decline in recent decades because of the arrival of the larger grey variety from the US in the late 19th century. They have been reduced to small populations in parts of the British countryside such as Scotland, Anglesey and the Isle of Wight as their shared habitat was overtaken by greys, which are indiscriminate in what they eat and able to reproduce at a faster rate. Decline of pine martens Pine martens have also suffered a catastrophic population decline in recent decades, but efforts to protect, reintroduce and nurture the species in Britain and Ireland has assisted red squirrels. The study by the University of Galways laid wildlife cameras around the Irish countryside to monitor activity at feeding sites and discovered that red squirrels become wary in the presence of pine martens. However, greys were more unaware of the signs and were therefore more likely to be killed. Dr Emily Reilly, the study's lead author, told The Telegraph: 'Red squirrels would rarely even eat any food if a pine marten had been there in the last eight hours.' 'They slowly became less cautious but you could still see the effect even days after the pine marten visit. 'The grey squirrels do not have this response. This is most likely why their numbers have been decreasing since the pine marten has made a comeback.' A total of 491 squirrel visits were recorded in the study, compared to 226 pine marten sightings detected by the cameras. The data collected in western Ireland will probably apply to Britain, where pine marten numbers are also increasing, Ms Reilly said. The study said: 'Following a pine marten visit to a feeder, red squirrels displayed a typical anti-predator response, exhibiting increased vigilance and decreased feeding.' 'There was no difference in the duration of the red squirrels' visits to a feeder, meaning red squirrels did not display a flight reaction in response to recent pine marten presence.' The study is published in Royal Society Open Science.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cross-border bid to create red squirrel strongholds
A cross-border conservation project to create red squirrel strongholds has been awarded nearly £5m of funding. Wildlife trusts from across the north of England are teaming up with organisations in the south of Scotland for a five-year programme of restoring habitats and controlling grey squirrels. The five-year plan will concentrate on fertility control of greys, with a contraceptive being introduced into the population. Natural predators of greys, such as pine martens, will also be encouraged into new areas, while restoration of red squirrels habitats will also take place. Alongside these initiatives, there will be a major push for communities, businesses and other organisations to get involved in saving the reds. Dr Karen Blackport, from Selkirk-based Bright Green Nature, said: "There are lots of new, innovative threads for helping red squirrels being introduced in this programme." Surveys have shown that about 75% of the UK's 160,000 red squirrels are to be found in Scotland. Numbers are continuing to decline as non-native grey squirrels, which were first introduced to country estates from North America in the late 1800s, drive them out of habitats. Greys also carry the squirrelpox virus, which is deadly to their red cousins. The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has provided £4.86m for the five-year Red Squirrel Recovery Programme. About 50 voluntary conservation organisations have been involved in a 12-month development phase of the project, where a conservation plan was drawn up. The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and Bright Green Nature will now team up with wildlife trusts in Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside for the next five-year phas. Dr Blackport added: "All of the work that has been done to date by so many organisations has been instrumental in forming the work that we are taking forward. "What is different this time is that it will be cross-border for the first time, and there will be an even greater emphasis on community engagement. "We want to get many more people involved in helping this iconic species." Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds More stories from South Scotland Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: "We are all absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding from NLHF to ensure red squirrel survival as we truly believe this project will make a sustainable long-term contribution to preventing the extinction of red squirrels in England and southern Scotland. "I'd like to say a massive thank you to all the community groups and volunteers who really worked and supported us over the past 12 months and helped turn our conservation dream into a reality." Greys invade England's red squirrel strongholds Disease that kills red squirrels moves north
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Cross-border project launched to create red squirrel strongholds gets £5m funding
A cross-border conservation project to create red squirrel strongholds has been awarded nearly £5m of trusts from across the north of England are teaming up with organisations in the south of Scotland for a five-year programme of restoring habitats and controlling grey five-year plan will concentrate on fertility control of greys, with a contraceptive being introduced into the predators of greys, such as pine martens, will also be encouraged into new areas, while restoration of red squirrels habitats will also take place. Alongside these initiatives, there will be a major push for communities, businesses and other organisations to get involved in saving the Karen Blackport, from Selkirk-based Bright Green Nature, said: "There are lots of new, innovative threads for helping red squirrels being introduced in this programme."Surveys have shown that about 75% of the UK's 160,000 red squirrels are to be found in are continuing to decline as non-native grey squirrels, which were first introduced to country estates from North America in the late 1800s, drive them out of also carry the squirrelpox virus, which is deadly to their red National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has provided £4.86m for the five-year Red Squirrel Recovery Programme. About 50 voluntary conservation organisations have been involved in a 12-month development phase of the project, where a conservation plan was drawn Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and Bright Green Nature will now team up with wildlife trusts in Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside for the next five-year phas. Dr Blackport added: "All of the work that has been done to date by so many organisations has been instrumental in forming the work that we are taking forward."What is different this time is that it will be cross-border for the first time, and there will be an even greater emphasis on community engagement."We want to get many more people involved in helping this iconic species." Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: "We are all absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding from NLHF to ensure red squirrel survival as we truly believe this project will make a sustainable long-term contribution to preventing the extinction of red squirrels in England and southern Scotland."I'd like to say a massive thank you to all the community groups and volunteers who really worked and supported us over the past 12 months and helped turn our conservation dream into a reality."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Approval sought for city woodland path improvements
Councillors have been asked to approve planned improvements to a historic wood in Inverness. Culduthel Community Woods are on about two acres (6ha) of land once associated with a former stately home that dated back to the 1780s. The woods were brought into community ownership in 2022 and are now the focus of projects to improve its paths, tackle invasive plants and encourage growth of native species. Highland Council officials have recommended that planned work to the wood's entrance, paths and a pond be granted permission. Rejuvenating a historic community-owned woodland We bought woodland where we walk our dogs for £900k Councillors are expected to visit the woods before considering the proposals at next week's south planning applications committee. The woods provide habitat to red squirrels and birds. Tiny burrows in an area of earth bank have also been found to be home to bees. Future proposals include improving an adjoining area of grassland for the benefit of plants and insects, and potentially putting up bat boxes. Highland Council Culduthel Community Woods
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Approval sought for Inverness woodland path improvements
Councillors have been asked to approve planned improvements to a historic wood in Community Woods are on about two acres (6ha) of land once associated with a former stately home that dated back to the woods were brought into community ownership in 2022 and are now the focus of projects to improve its paths, tackle invasive plants and encourage growth of native Council officials have recommended that planned work to the wood's entrance, paths and a pond be granted permission. Councillors are expected to visit the woods before considering the proposals at next week's south planning applications woods provide habitat to red squirrels and burrows in an area of earth bank have also been found to be home to proposals include improving an adjoining area of grassland for the benefit of plants and insects, and potentially putting up bat boxes.
