RSST is a partner in the Red Squirrels in South Scotland project. RSSS is a private sector led partnership with the public and voluntary sector that aims to halt and ultimately reverse the pattern of grey squirrel invasion along the south Scotland border with England and so protect Scotland’s remaining reds.

Large numbers of greys in England are found with the squirrelpox virus, a pathogen to which they show immunity but which is almost always deadly to reds. Greys in central and northern Scotland do not carry this virus but if they come into contact with greys that have crossed the border, the virus could be transmitted to them and the effect on the Scottish red squirrel population could be terrible. RSSS is currently funded until 2012, when the results of the strategy will be assessed.

The project has made significant progress in the past 12 months in several ways:

Area covered
Over 375,900 hectares have been designated as a ‘priority area’ with landscape control to remove greys in order to prevent squirrelpox virus transmission to native red squirrels. The project controls greys by working with landowners to make applications for Scottish Rural Development Programme funding that supports grey squirrel trapping and by employing 6 grey squirrel control officers: 3 provided by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and 3 provided by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT).

By early 2010, the project had control ongoing in 53% of the priority area woodlands (private and FCS). The 3 SWT grey squirrel control officers are working in strategically important invasion and incursion corridors. This is an impressive foundation upon which the project will build towards full coverage.

Squirrelpox eradication
To date, 48 confirmed poxed red squirrels have been found at 5 outbreak sites (Dalton, Annan, Langholm, Drumlanrig & Lockerbie) since April 2007. Of these, 29 pox casualties were from around Drumlanrig Castle.

The good news is that, following consistent and concerted grey squirrel control, only 1 poxed red has been found since July 2009, indicating that the Drumlanrig outbreak has most likely been contained. A recent positive case from Newcastleton illustrates that it is essential that trapping continues to prevent further debilitating outbreaks.

Reds returning
Reds have been reported returning across the project area, and particularly in Melrose, Galashiels, Hawick and Selkirk.