Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is calling on those living in Highland Perthshire to take part in the nationwide Great Squirrel Survey, between the 10th and 16th of October.
The survey coincides with Red Squirrel Awareness Week and the public are asked to get out and squirrel spotting to help keep a track of squirrel movements in Scotland.
Victoria Chanin, Project Officer in South Scotland said: “Red Squirrel Week is great time to get outside for an autumnal walk. Engaging with nature in this way is very beneficial for people’s wellbeing and adding sightings of red and grey squirrels to our online map helps us to keep track of squirrel movements in Scotland.”
Last year’s 2021 Great Scottish Squirrel Survey saw 1549 squirrel sightings reported in just one week by nearly 1100 people across Scotland. With the sightings helping project staff create a picture of the situation on the ground, and directly contribute to red squirrel conservation action.
Programme Manager Nicole Still added: “The public play an essential role in our work and red squirrel conservation across Scotland. The sightings data collected gives us valuable insights on how the situation with both red and grey squirrels is changing. The Great Scottish Squirrel Survey allows us to compare data between years which is really helpful in understanding the impact our efforts are having over time and where more help is needed.”
“Acting as a squirrel spotter while you are out and about and reporting a squirrel sighting is simple and means that everyone can have a part to play in conserving our iconic red squirrel.”
To record your sightings, visit https://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/ and simply add your sightings recording the colour, number of squirrels, date and the location.
There is also a worksheet available from the website aimed at Children which encourages them to look for squirrels and record the number they see of both Red and Grey squirrels, the date and location of the sightings.
You can find more information about Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels and the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey at http://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/great-scottish-squirrel-survey/