ON your marks, get set for this year’s Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, taking place next week.
Organisers Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) are calling on the public in Dumfries and Galloway to get outside and take part.
Running between September 30 and October 6, it’s a chance for members of the public to make a valuable contribution towards vital red squirrel conservation.
Programme manager Nicole Still said: “Red and grey squirrels have turned up in some very unusual places in 2024 – from reds in urban areas to greys further north than we would normally expect. Alongside this we had our first confirmed death in the Central Lowlands of a red squirrel from squirrelpox earlier in the year.
“As such, it’s more important than ever that we gather as many public squirrel sightings as possible. Reporting a sighting is a simple thing anyone can do to help – by being our eyes on the ground the public can make an invaluable contribution towards critical Scottish nature conservation efforts.”
Squirrels spotted anywhere in the country, from back gardens to local parks and woodlands, or even busy urban areas, can be reported to SSRS via scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings.
