Red Squirrel Survival Trust
The reds are fighting back! PDF Print E-mail
A recent report by Dr Craig Shuttleworth, Project Director of the Friends of Anglesey Red Squirrels and an advisor to RSST, has shown exciting evidence from around the UK of red squirrels fighting back. In all circumstances there is a common theme: reds will return to areas once they have been cleared of grey squirrels. Here are some highlights from his report.

Grasmere, Cumbria
Grey squirrels were historically controlled in the Grasmere area but this became co-ordinated since the formation of the Grasmere Local group in 2004. The group now has 40 households involved in grey control and reporting of squirrel sightings, and collaborates with Northern Red Squirrels and Save our Squirrels (SoS).

Red Bank, Greenhead Gill and Brackenfell/White Moss are examples of areas which experienced local red squirrel extinctions due to squirrelpox outbreaks but where, through grey control during and following the outbreaks, reds have since returned.

Skelwith Bridge, Coniston, Cumbria
Red squirrels started to visit the residents’ gardens about 15 years ago, when households started to feed the birds.  In 1999 the reds disappeared and greys began to regularly visit the bird tables.

The residents then began grey control but for the next two years neither reds nor greys were observed.

However, in 2008 four reds have been seen feeding regularly together, and the residents believe that there are certainly more.  In May 2009 at least two nursing mothers have been visiting the bird tables daily.

Dissington Hall, Northumberland
This area has experienced two periods of dramatic red squirrel decline, in part due to the squirrelpox virus. The first took place in October 2005 and the second in January 2008.

In response to this grey control was conducted in the immediate area (by the Landowner) and in surrounding woodlands (by the NRS group Ponteland Red Squirrels). From the spring of 2009 red squirrels have been sighted regularly and there have been no reported grey sightings since the winter months.

Milbourne, Northumberland
There had been no reported red squirrel sightings in Milbourne since early 2008. After grey squirrel control carried out by Ponteland Red Squirrels and RSPP in the surrounding area, regular red squirrel sightings have been reported since February 2009.

Do you know areas where reds are returning? If so, please get in touch & we will add this information to our website. Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write to us at:

Red Squirrel Survival Trust
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