Red squirrels

 

Background

Red squirrels are Britain's only native squirrel. Whilst they are still a familiar sight in Cumbria and the North East of England, they have all but vanished from the rest of England where they have been replaced by the North American grey squirrel. It has been estimated that there are about 30,000 Red Squirrels in England, 120,000 in Scotland, and 20,000 in Wales. By comparison it is estimated that there are about  2.5 million Grey Squirrels in the UK.

Whinlatter Forest

The Forestry Commission in North West England is working with Save Our Squirrels and other partners to help secure the long-term survival of red squirrels in Cumbria.

 Whinlatter Forest Park has been designated as a Red Squirrel Refuge as it still has a good population of Red Squirrels and is ideally suited because it is largely coniferous, one of our larger forests and has few large seeded broadleaves. We are managing Whinlatter Forest to provide a good habitat for Red Squirrels with a mixed age structure, range of conifer species and by not planting large seeded broadleaves.

In addition to maintaining habitats for Red Squirrel we are monitoring for Grey Squirrel incursion by trapping. Traps are set and baited with maize and visited twice a day by our Wildlife Rangers to ensure no suffering is experienced by any captured animal. Approximately 50 traps are being deployed in 2007 covering a wide area within woodlands in the buffer zone around Whinlatter.

Spot the Difference:

• Red Squirrel:
•  
• Body length: 20-22cm
• Ears: tufted, especially in winter
• Tail: one colour all over
• Weight: 300g
• Shape: Slender
• Habits: Shy, spends time in high trees

Grey Squirrel:

Body length: 25-26cm
Ears: never tufted
Tail: white tips all around tail
Weight: 500g
Shape: stocky
Habits: bold often seen on the ground