Moray red squirrels go north
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RED squirrels from Moray are being moved northwards in a ground-breaking reintroduction project.
Findhorn-based conservation charity Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland (WTS) have partnered up to return red squirrels to a Sutherland wood.
Red squirrels have been successfully released at WTS’s Ledmore and Migdale Woods in the latest phase of the Trees for Life reintroduction project across the Highlands, which is moving into Sutherland for the first time.
To help red squirrels extend their range further north, around 20 reds from thriving populations in Inverness-shire and Moray will be relocated to the Woodland Trust site near Spinningdale, on the shore of Dornoch Firth, during October and November.
Critically, the region is free of grey squirrels.
Becky Priestley, Trees for Life’s red squirrel project manager, said: "We are reintroducing red squirrels to carefully chosen native woodlands where these iconic wild animals belong, but from which they have been lost. They will then be able to spread, safe from threats from grey squirrels.
"The Woodland Trust’s Ledmore and Migdale Woods are a perfect habitat for red squirrels."
Urgent action is needed to secure the long-term future of the increasingly rare red squirrel in the UK, where only an estimated 138,000 survive, including some 120,000 in Scotland. Numbers of the much-loved mammals have been decimated by reduction of their forest homes to isolated fragments, and by competition and lethal disease from non-native grey squirrels.
Because reds travel between trees and avoid crossing large open spaces, they can’t return to now isolated woodlands on their own – so the species is missing from many suitable Highland woods.
New populations of red squirrels already established by Trees for Life – following the charity’s reintroduction of 140 animals across several Highland locations between 2016 and 2018 – have been successfully breeding and spreading into wider areas.
The Spinningdale releases this autumn will be Trees for Life’s northernmost release site to date. Previous relocations of squirrels from their strongholds in Inverness-shire and Moray were to forest fragments at Shieldaig, the Coulin Estate near Kinlochewe, Plockton, Inverewe, the Reraig peninsular, Attadale and Letterewe.
Ross Watson, North Scotland site manager at WTS, said: "The ancient woods at Ledmore and Migdale include a stunning pinewood and one of the most northerly oakwoods in Britain. It is perfect for red squirrels.
"Volunteers from the local community have come forward to help us ease the reds into their new home. They will be feeding and monitoring how the squirrels are getting on. It is great that the local community is going to be a part of this exciting project, and with 19 volunteers the squirrels will almost have one each."
Increasing red squirrel numbers also benefits the expansion of native forests as the squirrels collect and bury thousands of tree seeds each autumn, which often lie forgotten and take root.
The squirrels are transported in hay-lined nest boxes that are fixed to trees at the release sites, with grass-filled exit holes allowing the squirrels to leave when ready. Food is provided for several months as the squirrels get used to their new habitat. Annual monitoring involves observations of feeding signs, drey surveys and sightings records.
Only small numbers of red squirrels are removed from any site.
For more information visit www.treesforlife.org.uk/support or call 01309 691292.
