RSPB Scotland joins fight to save red squirrel
A project to save Scotland’s red squirrels has been boosted by a major wildlife conservation charity.
RSPB Scotland has joined the fight to save the creature from extinction by signing up to the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project.
It joins five other charitable, government and land-owning bodies trying to secure the future of the woodland mammal.
The red squirrel is the UK’s only native squirrel and numbers have declined rapidly since the introduction of grey squirrels from North America in the 19th century.
Since 1952, 95 per cent of red squirrels in England and Wales have been wiped out and today 75 percent of the UK’s remaining population is found in Scotland.
But greys still threaten the existence of the native reds because they compete for food and habitat and transmit the deadly squirrelpox virus.
The project aims to continue to prevent the spread northwards of grey squirrels and squirrelpox via a programme of grey squirrel control in a zone running coast to coast along the Highland Boundary Fault.
It will also define and map priority areas for red squirrel conservation in south Scotland, and co-ordinate the delivery of the grey squirrel control required to sustain healthy red squirrel populations.
Dr Aileen McLeod, minister for environment, climate change and land reform, said: "Scotland has adopted a pioneering approach to protecting our red squirrel population, which involves a number of organisations working together.
"The numbers of red squirrels in Scotland are increasing and are now returning to their former habitats.
"This has been most notably in the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, and the north-east of Scotland where people are once again seeing red squirrels visiting the bird feeders in their gardens.
"This is due to the great work being carried out by various stakeholders, such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust through the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrel’s project, landowners, Forestry Commission Scotland, and volunteers who have been undertaking targeted control of grey squirrels.
"I am also delighted that RSPB Scotland are now involved in Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, who will bring a wealth of knowledge to the project."
Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "We are in the privileged position of owning and managing more than 80 nature reserves across Scotland and we already a huge responsibility for delivering on the conservation of our native red squirrels.
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"We have been very impressed with the work of the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project, as it represents what we believe is the very best chance of preventing the extinction of this species on the British mainland.
"We are really pleased not only to be joining forces with the member organisations to help contribute to this important work, but also to commit hard-won charitable funds to this excellent project.
"We are looking forward to a very productive and constructive partnership."