Red Squirrel Population Increases by 25% in Scottish Highlands Following Rewilding Project
A recent survey conducted by rewilding charity Trees for Life has revealed that the range of red squirrels in the Scottish Highlands has increased by more than 25% in the last 10 years. This success is a result of the charity’s ongoing reintroduction project, which has seen over a dozen new populations of red squirrels thriving and breeding successfully.
According to the latest survey, Trees for Life has relocated 259 red squirrels to 13 new sites in the northwest Highlands, where the species was previously missing. The reintroductions have been successful in establishing new populations of red squirrels as far north as Ullapool and Brora, and across all areas of suitable habitat in the central Highlands.
Becky Priestley, spokesperson for Trees for Life, says, “This rewilding success story is offering hope for the long-term survival of Scotland’s much-loved red squirrels, and shows how we can make a real and positive difference to our native wildlife.”
To further expand the range of red squirrels, Trees for Life plans to launch a Missing Species Programme for the Highlands, which aims to bring back four of Scotland’s keystone animals that are either partly or fully missing from the region. This programme will include the reintroduction of red squirrels to new areas.
The red squirrel, an iconic Scottish species, was brought to the brink of extinction in Britain due to historic habitat loss and human persecution. Its recovery remains at risk due to competition from the non-native grey squirrel, which also carries the fatal squirrel pox virus.
Under NatureScot’s licensing, Trees for Life carefully relocates small numbers of red squirrels from healthy populations around Inverness-shire, Moray, and Strathspey to suitable woods in the north and northwest, where they will be safe from greys. This is crucial as red squirrels do not naturally cross large open spaces.
The latest reintroductions this year saw 12 red squirrels released into woodlands along the coast from Letterfearn to Ratagan on the Glenelg peninsula. This was done to bolster the population after seven squirrels were released the previous autumn.
Before the reintroductions, red squirrels were absent from most of their former range in the north and northwest Highlands, with the last records generally from the 1970s. However, Trees for Life’s surveys show that reintroductions have been highly successful, already increasing the Highland red squirrel range by more than 26%.
To ensure the welfare of the animals, prior consultations are carried out at each release site. Only a few reds are relocated from each donor site to leave those populations unaffected, and these sites are regularly changed to ensure genetic diversity. Checks are also conducted to ensure only healthy animals are relocated.
The red squirrels are transported in hay-lined nest boxes and released into habitat with plenty of natural food and shelter. Additional food is provided for several months to help the reds adjust to their new environment.
Since launching the project in 2015, Trees for Life has established new populations of reds in Shieldaig, Coulin, Plockton, Inverewe, Reraig, Attadale, Letterewe, Lochaline, Spinningdale, Golspie, Arisaig, Drimnin, and Ratagan. Combined with the previous work of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, which pioneered the reintroductions to three other sites, a total of more than 340 red squirrels have been relocated to 16 new sites in the Highlands since 2008.
Becky Priestley adds, “Our local community volunteers have been at the heart of this project – from identifying donor sites, to helping with supplementary feeding and taking part in citizen science by reporting sightings and monitoring camera traps.”
As part of the project, Trees for Life has created a detailed new red squirrel distribution map for the Highlands to inform future restoration initiatives. This map draws on citizen science sightings, data from organizations and landowners, and a new way of analyzing squirrel feeding evidence.
The charity’s surveys have also highlighted the benefits of reforestation, and how further woodland restoration could help isolated populations of reds to spread. Squirrel reintroductions in turn help forests to naturally expand, as reds plant new trees by forgetting where they have buried their winter stores of nuts and seeds.
In November, Trees for Life announced that it will be launching a £3.6 million Missing Species Programme for the Highlands, focused on red squirrels, lynx, beavers, and modern-day aurochs. The charity has also reached out to major funders to help resource the ambitious new programme.
For more details on the Missing Species Programme, visit treesforlife.org.uk/missing-species.
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