Text-a-Squirrel scheme aims to track city's native reds

Published on Thursday 30 September 2010 16:33

EXPERTS hope a simple text message could help save a small group of red squirrels under threat from greys in a Scottish city.

In a scheme thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, mobile phone users are being urged to report sightings of squirrels in Aberdeen to monitor populations of the animals.

The Text-a-Squirrel scheme, which starts tomorrow and runs for two weeks, is the brainchild of Hollie Walker, North-east project officer for Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels, a campaign led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association.

Aberdeen's small population of the iconic red squirrels is under threat from the larger grey squirrel, which has replaced the red in other parts of Scotland.

It is hoped to keep track of both populations by asking people to report sightings by texting the word RED or GREY, followed by the street or postcode where it was spotted to a dedicated number - 88802.

The wildlife bodies say by collecting the data they will get a better picture of the population size and movements of both squirrel species.

Ms Walker said: "As far as we know, this is the first time a scheme like this has been used to collect records on the movements of wild animals.

"Most people carry a mobile phone when they are out and about in the city, so we hope that the ease of texting will encourage more people to report their sighting when they spot a red or grey squirrel."

In the North-east, there are still thought to be strong colonies of red squirrels in Deeside, Donside and Speyside, with small pockets in and around Aberdeen, although the size of the populations is not known.

They are coming under increasing pressure from greys, which arrived in the area about 30 years ago and have spread to areas such as Peterculter, Banchory, Tarland and Bennachie.

Ms Walker said: "We have the atypical situation in Aberdeen of both red and grey squirrel populations still living within close proximity in the city centre.

"We know that small pockets of red squirrels are thriving in Hazlehead, as well as in the woods of Foggieton and Countesswells just north of Bieldside, Craibstone, and Milltimber, Bieldside and Cults. There are even thought to be some in Seaton Park, next to the University of Aberdeen.

"A surprising recent red squirrel sighting in Forest Avenue indicates just how close to the city centre red squirrels are. We are keen to find out more areas where red squirrels are appearing in the city."

A similar situation exists in Tayside, where experts are working to help re-establish red squirrel populations in Dundee city.So far grey squirrels have not spread to the Highlands, and efforts are continuing to keep them at bay.

Ms Walker added: "Our efforts in Aberdeen to protect the city's remaining red squirrels and ensure that grey squirrels do not spread further north to jeopardise the red squirrels in the Highlands are essential to protecting the future of red squirrels in Scotland."

Alister Clunas of Aberdeen Greenspace Trust, a funder of Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels, said: "This is a great opportunity for the public to become involved by reporting squirrel sightings. We hope the results will show the red squirrels colonising new areas of the city."

A population at risk:

Only about 120,000 native red squirrels are left in Scotland - about 75 per cent of the UK population.

They are being squeezed out by the larger North American grey, which also carries a pox that can wipe out the reds. There are estimated to be 300,000 greys in Scotland and three million in the UK.

Grey squirrels are now the single largest threat to red squirrels in Scotland. The squirrelpox virus is harmless to greys but lethal to reds.

It can speed up the rate at which grey squirrels displace and replace reds - usually about 15 years - by a factor of 20.