(c) Sam Rowley Photography
Red squirrel conservation
Report your squirrel sightingsRed squirrels
The only native squirrel to the UK, 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.
Introduced from North America in the Victorian era, grey squirrels caused the decline of our native red squirrel through competition for food and space, and by spreading the fatal squirrel pox virus. Due to this, red squirrels have disappeared from great swathes of the country. The total UK population is now thought to be approx. 287,000 individuals, of which more than three-quarters are found in Scotland.
The plight of red squirrels
Map credit: UK Squirrel Accord map of red and grey squirrel sightings data submitted and verified 2017-2022. Data provided by CEDar, Clocaenog Red Squirrels Trust, Colin Lawton, Mammal Society, Mid-Wales Red Squirrel Partnership, National Biodiversity Data Centre, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Red Squirrels Northern England, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, Trees for Life, Ulster Wildlife, University Of Galway and Vincent Wildlife Trust. The map was created by the Mammal Society for the UK Squirrel Accord.
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 280,000.
In 2020 the Mammal Society released an official Red List for British Mammals, highlighting the species most at risk. In Britain 1 in 4 species are threatened with extinction and the red squirrel is classified as ‘Endangered’ and is one of the 21 species considered at risk of extinction.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust is working hard to ensure this doesn’t happen in Merseyside and Lancashire. Thanks to the perseverance and dedication of our volunteers, local community, and Project Officers, the Lancashire and Merseyside population persists.
Yet, like many areas in Britain, they remain fragile.
It is our aim that red squirrels will once again become a common sight throughout North Merseyside, West Lancashire and beyond. Donate to help us keep the population stable
England Red Squirrel Recovery Strategy
In April 2026, Natural England published the England Red Squirrel Recovery Strategy. The strategy aims to:
- Assess different approaches for recovering red squirrel populations.
- Evaluate the impacts of grey squirrel management on red squirrel recovery.
- Consider factors including cost, animal welfare, public support, and impacts on other species.
- Examine the potential role of emerging tools such as grey squirrel fertility control and squirrel pox vaccination.
- Identify the management approaches most likely to deliver long-term red squirrel recovery.
- Provide evidence to support future national and local conservation decisions.
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.
Donate today to help us protect them
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 space, 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. 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 25 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. We urge people to drive with care, and keep dogs on leads in red squirrel areas.
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.
Signs of squirrel pox
Physical signs can include scabs, lesions, redness, weeping, and scratching around the eyes, mouth, feet, and genitals.
Infected squirrels may be less cautious of humans. They may appear lethargic and easier to contain.
Should you see a sick red squirrel, please try and take a photograph to share with us.
How can I help?
The public play a vital role in supporting red squirrel recovery.
If you live in or visit areas where red squirrels are present, you can help by following recommended feeding guidance. We strongly encourage scatter feeding wherever possible, as feeders can become hotspots for disease transmission. Viruses can survive in dried saliva, urine, and other bodily fluids left on feeding equipment, allowing infection to spread easily between squirrels.
If you choose to continue using feeders, bird baths or other wildlife equipment, these should be cleaned and disinfected at least once a day using Virkon S or Safe4 to help reduce the risk of disease transmission.
If you encounter a sick or injured squirrel, please wear thick gloves and take care when handling it, as distressed animals may bite in self-defence. If the squirrel needs to be moved, place it in a secure cat carrier or a sturdy, well-ventilated box until further assistance can be arranged.
Contact information
Should you see a sick or injured red squirrel, please contact us on 07590 745 862. Please note this number is not constantly monitored, so leave a voicemail and contact your local vet or the RSPCA (0300 1234 99) if required. Vets should not charge to see sick or injured wildlife.
Vets 4 Pets, Southport
Pets at Home, Ocean Plaza, Marine Drive, Southport, PR8 1SA
01704 511 030
Village Vets, Formby
1 Chapel Lane, Formby, Liverpool, L37 4DL
01704 872 924
Vets 4 Pets, Aintree
Pets at Home, Racecourse Retail Park, Aintree, L9 5AN
0151 5302 040
Parker & Crowther, Formby
113 Church Road, Formby, L37 3ND
01704 877 145
Watch our podcast about red squirrels
In this episode, our host Lydia speaks with Red Squirrel Officers Molly and Melissa about what recovery takes, from targeted grey control and volunteer monitoring to a new Red Squirrel Recovery Network trialling grey-only contraceptive feeders.
You will also meet Houdini, an orphaned kit on a soft-release journey.
For media enquiries, please contact Communications Officer Heather Harris at hharris@lancswt.org.uk.
Peter Cairns/2020VISION
What's happening locally?
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.
Every spring and autumn we carry out standardised monitoring throughout North Merseyside and West Lancashire, thanks to local landowners allowing our project officers and volunteers to access sites in the area. This monitoring has been ongoing since 2002 and has enabled us to track the changes in red squirrel population throughout the squirrel pox outbreaks, along with their overwinter survival and breeding success.
This monitoring also feeds into the Red Squirrels Northern England Spring Monitoring Programme, which is a collaborative survey of over 200 woodlands and gardens across the North of England.
Research
North Merseyside is home to one of the few urban red squirrel populations in England. We have been involved in some exciting research.
Between 2016 and 2020 we were 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.
We have:
- Researched how red squirrels utilise the urban environment with Kat Fingland at Nottingham Trent University.
- Trained the first red squirrel conservation detection dog in the country with Kyrus Ltd. 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.
- Helped Sanger Institute's work to sequence the genomes of 25 British mammals
We are now:
- Working with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Knowsley Safari, and Southern Scotland to create the “Red Squirrel Recovery Network”, a landscape scale partnership to help protect red squirrels across north England and Southern Scotland. Read more about it here.
- Researching the wider impacts of grey squirrels. Our Red Squirrel Officer, Molly Frost, is currently undertaking her PhD at the University of York. Her research is in collaboration with UK Squirrel Accord, Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control, Forestry Commission, and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Invasive species pose a great threat to native environments, the aim of the project is to assess the biodiversity and ecosystem service impacts of grey squirrels in UK woodland habitat, You can follow Molly’s research here.
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 to sign up to our Urban Trap Loan Scheme click here.
For any more information about grey squirrel management email red.squirrel@lancswt.org.uk
Save the red squirrel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVn_OlYyig4)
(c) The Wildlife Trusts
Where can I see them?
In England, red squirrels can be seen on the Isle of Wight, Brownsea Island (where there are no grey squirrels) and in Northumberland, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and nearby on the Formby coast. They have been seen in two of our own reserves, Freshfield Dune Heath and Mere Sands Wood. The main strongholds for red squirrels are in Scotland and Ireland due to the introduction of grey squirrels from North America which caused our native red squirrel numbers to plummet due to the competition from the larger American grey squirrels, but also due to the squirrel pox virus carried by the greys. This can cause entire populations of red squirrels to die out.
What to look for
Red Squirrels can be found in coniferous and broadleaf woodlands, 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. Its best to look up, red squirrels are arboreal (meaning they live in trees). They are easier to spot in morning or late afternoon, but always listen out for rustling in the trees or falling pinecones as you may spot a squirrel making the noise.
Report your squirrel sightings
Please report sightings of both 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 sick red squirrel, please phone 07590 745862.
How you can help red squirrels
You can help red squirrels in Lancashire and Merseyside by becoming a volunteer.
Find volunteering opportunities
If you're lucky enough to have red squirrels visiting your garden, we recommend scatter feeding over using feeders this minimises the risk of squirrel pox and any other diseases spreading. If you have bird feeders and water bowls please clean them regularly. Also make sure you provide a variety of foods such as monkey nuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, apple, carrot and lots of fresh water.
Remember, feeding should only be supplementary. To ensure that red squirrels still forage naturally, only provide food every few days.
