Red squirrels at Threave

Did you know red squirrels are our only native squirrels?

These are the words I often use to open up a conversation about our lovely reds, and no-one has turned down the chance to talk squirrels with me! They are much-loved creatures, and everyone recognises and admires them, even if they don’t know much about them. It always makes me feel good when visitors see a red squirrel for the first time because, sadly, most people normally only see the non-native grey squirrel. Not to say that grey squirrels aren’t lovely animals in their own right, but unfortunately they cannot co-exist with our native species. Greys originated in North America and were introduced to the UK during the 19th century.

I never take it for granted when I see a red squirrel, because my joy is tempered by the knowledge that they’re under severe threat. A number of factors have combined to make life incredibly difficult for our red squirrel friends, the most serious being the squirrel pox virus. This highly contagious disease is carried by grey squirrels, although in most cases they do not contract the disease themselves but pass it onto the reds. It has been found that where greys are absent, there are never cases of the virus.

When a red squirrel has the virus, you can plainly see the outward signs: skin lesions around the mouth and paws, and elsewhere on the body. It’s usually fatal to the animal, and at times can reach epidemic proportions where 80–90% of a local population may be lost. This is devastating on many levels, but especially in light of the other problems the species faces for survival. Thankfully, we’ve not had a case of the virus at Threave, but cases have been reported in Dumfries & Galloway.

In addition to spreading this deadly virus, grey squirrels are bigger and outcompete the reds for food, as well as stealing their food caches. Greys dominate their habitats by their sheer numbers – it’s usual to find one red squirrel per 100m², but it’s common to get up to six greys living in the same area.

The non-native grey squirrel is not the only threat to our beloved reds. Road casualties have a detrimental impact on numbers and can, in some cases, wipe out a local population. If you see road signs, please slow down.

Habitat loss is another reason for the decline in numbers, as is the lack of suitable corridors for travelling and dispersing. But, all is not lost! Here at Threave we’re in the process of undertaking some habitat creation and restoration in the garden and elsewhere on the estate, to support our good population of red squirrels. Over my time here, I’ve seen more than 10 red squirrels in a day ... but not always, though, as sometimes they like to play hide and seek. These improvements will also benefit many more wildlife species, including birds, bats and other small mammals and invertebrates.

There are many other initiatives at Threave Garden and Estate aimed at making things better for our red squirrels. Working closely with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS), many local groups in Dumfries & Galloway have been created to try and stop the spread of grey squirrels coming into the area. This has been a concerted effort from SSRS employees, group members and landowners; everyone has come together to both strategically remove grey squirrels from priority areas and to carry out surveying/monitoring for the presence of both species. In some areas where greys have been removed, red squirrels have recolonised, which is a huge success. The National Trust for Scotland cares for a lot of land and we’re actively involved with this effort to conserve the red squirrels in the area.

We also have observation areas at Threave where people can see the squirrels close-up. This is a great opportunity for education, where people can learn about red squirrels as well as the importance of conservation. To give visitors the best possible chance of seeing the squirrels, we regularly feed them (although not on every day, in order to ensure that they continue with their natural behaviour). The main reason we feed them is to monitor the population and keep an eye out for greys. We have a strict cleaning regime: all feeders are disinfected weekly to minimise the spread of viruses and other ailments. If you’re helping out the red squirrels in your area, make sure you do the same thing too.