Red squirrels

Red squirrel

(c) Sam Rowley Photography

Projects

Red squirrel conservation

Report your squirrel sightings

What are they?

With their distinctive russet fur, tufted ears, and twitching tail, a red squirrel is a captivating sight. Autumn is a great time to see them as they forage nuts to cache for the long winter months. The introduction of the grey squirrel from North America caused our once common native red squirrel to go on the retreat, disappearing from great swathes of the country. The total UK population is now thought to be as low as 120,000 animals, of which more than three-quarters are found in Scotland.

The plight of red squirrels

Plight of red squirrels map

The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is our only native species of squirrel, but it is under threat, having nearly completely disappeared from most of the UK in just under 150 years: declining from around 3.5 million to just 140,000.

In 2020 the Mammal Society released an official Red List for British Mammals, highlighting the species most at risk. The red squirrel is classified as ‘Endangered’ and is one of the 19 species considered at risk of extinction in Britain.

But Lancashire Wildlife Trust, in partnership with Red Alert, are working hard to ensure this doesn’t happen in Merseyside and Lancashire. Despite two outbreaks of squirrel pox in the last 12 years, the population is still going strong thanks to the perseverance and dedication of our volunteers and Project Officers.

It is our aim that red squirrels will once again become a common sight throughout North Merseyside, West Lancashire and beyond.

Report your sightings of red squirrels

Why do we love this species so much?

For many of us the red squirrel brings back childhood memories of Squirrel Nutkin, a character from the famous Beatrix Potter series. The red squirrel is one of our most iconic, native and much-loved small mammals, and seeing one for the first time is a special moment that everybody should experience.

In terms of ecological niche, the red squirrel is a key seed disperser for our native tree species such as Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). They also spread mychorrizal fungi spores that are incredibly important for their symbiosis with trees. Red squirrels therefore play a vital role in the regeneration of coniferous woodlands which are also an important habitat for other species like the goshawk, pine marten and wildcat.

What are the threats to red squirrels?

The main threat to the species has been the introduction of the invasive grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), brought over from North America by the Victorians in the 1870s.

Not only do grey squirrels outcompete reds for food and resources, but they also carry the squirrel pox virus. This virus is fatal to reds, yet is carried by greys without any impact on their health. Recent studies have shown that up to 100% of grey squirrels in an area can be carrying the virus. Where the virus is present, greys replace red squirrels up to 20 times faster than through competition alone.

Unfortunately, red squirrels face numerous other threats such as predation by domestic cats and dogs, roadkill and habitat loss and fragmentation.

Red squirrels and their resting places receive full protection in the UK under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Grey squirrels are listed on Schedule 9 of this Act, which makes it illegal to release a grey squirrel or allow it to escape.

A red squirrel standing to attention on a fallen tree

Peter Cairns/2020VISION

What's happening locally?

Red squirrel distribution map

Red squirrel distribution in West Lancashire and North Merseyside

Monitoring

We carry out standardised monitoring of red and grey squirrels throughout North Merseyside and West Lancashire every spring and autumn and have been doing so since 2002. This has enabled us to track the changes in the red squirrel population throughout the two squirrel pox outbreaks, and also means we can monitor overwinter survival and breeding success.

Read our latest annual report

Research

North Merseyside is home to one of the few urban red squirrel populations in England. We have been involved in some exciting research with Kat Fingland at Nottingham Trent University who is researching how red squirrels utilise the urban environment.

We have worked with Kyrus Ltd to train the first red squirrel conservation detection dog in the country. Max is helping us to find sick and dead red squirrels so we can react more quickly to disease outbreaks. You can see him in action in the video below, and click here to read more about one of his finds in Bangor.

We were involved in the Sanger Institute's work to sequence the genomes of 25 British mammals, and between 2016 and 2020 Lancashire Wildlife Trust was a partner in the Red Squirrels United project: the biggest ever coalition of academics and delivery partners working together on a scientifically robust programme of conservation for our iconic red squirrels.

Grey squirrel management

We work with landowners and volunteers throughout North Merseyside and West Lancashire to reduce the threats from grey squirrels in both woodlands and urban areas. If you would like more information, please email red.squirrel@lancswt.org.uk.

Search for red squirrel volunteering opportunities

(c) The Wildlife Trusts

Where can I see them?

The introduction of the grey squirrel from North America caused our native red squirrel numbers to plummet, perhaps partly due to competition from the larger American, but also due to the ‘squirrel pox’ virus carried by the greys, which can cause entire populations of red squirrel to die out. Scotland and Ireland are where the red squirrel now has its main strongholds. In England, red squirrels only survive on the Isle of Wight and Brownsea Island, where there are no greys, on the Formby coast, and in the extensive pine forests of Northumberland and the Lake District. 

Freshfield Dune Heath Mere Sands Wood

What to look for

Red Squirrels are most often found in coniferous woods, feasting on hazelnuts by cracking the shell in half. You may also find pine cones that have been nibbled, leaving what looks like an apple core behind. Squirrels make a rough nest, called a 'drey', of twigs, leaves and strips of bark in the fork of a branch, high in the tree canopy. Like most wild animals, red squirrels tend to be shy of people, so keep as quiet as you can. A good first place to look is on bird feeders! Red squirrels are just as keen on peanuts as their grey cousins, and they may come to feeders if they are around.

Report your squirrel sightings

Please report sightings of red and grey squirrels. This will help us to accurately map the distribution of both species throughout the project area.

The easiest way to report red squirrel sightings is by completing this form.

If you spot a grey squirrel or a sick red squirrel, please email red.squirrel@lancswt.org.uk.

How you can help red squirrels

You can also help the great red squirrel comeback by joining the local volunteer group dedicated to red squirrel conservation in our area: Red Alert (Lancashire & Merseyside). There are local group meetings every season, so if you're interested in joining in and learning more then please contact us.

If you're lucky enough to have red squirrels visiting your garden, please clean any feeders and water bowls regularly. Sterilising feeders used by reds and greys will help to minimise the risk of squirrel pox and any other diseases spreading. Also make sure you provide a variety of foods such as monkey nuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, apple, carrot and fresh water.

Remember, feeding should only be supplementary. To ensure that red squirrels still forage naturally, only provide food every few days.