Red Squirrels in South Scotland project update

Phase Four of the Red Squirrels in South Scotland project began last August and has been focussing on the containment of the deadly Squirrelpox virus and the control of the introduced grey squirrel. The Squirrelpox virus is carried by grey squirrels entering Scotland from England, but while it is harmless to greys it is lethal to our native red squirrels. Red squirrels that contract the disease suffer from severe lesions and die within two weeks. During 2008 there were four outbreaks of the Squirrelpox virus among red squirrels in Scotland in the Annan, Langholm, Dalton and Thornhill areas. This year the pox virus outbreak has been confirmed as persisting on the Drumlanrig Estate at Thornhill but Buccleuch rangers are working hard to contain the virus and have so far been successful in their efforts.

The RSSS project officers have been working with two Scottish Wildlife Trust Grey Squirrel Control Officers (GSCO) and four Forestry Commission GSCO’s to help stem the tide of pox carrying grey squirrels into south Scotland. Efforts by this team have been greatly supported by many landowners throughout the region and the numerous participants in the RSSS trap loan scheme. We are pleased to announce that this year RSSS assisted 24 land owners in south Scotland to obtain Scottish Rural Development Programme funding to help them undertake large scale grey squirrel control on their Estates and farms. The RSSS project has been promoting a collaborative approach to red squirrel conservation with the public, private and voluntary sectors all successfully contributing to the continued survival of this species in south Scotland.