Tree for life - Red squirrel reintroduction project: Highland Red Squirrel survey, report 2025
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- Monitoring points:
- Species observations:
Test project
No
Project summary
Historic habitat loss and human persecution has brought this woodland-loving mammal to the brink of extinction. Today, the recovery of red squirrels remains under threat due to competition with non-native grey squirrels and the fatal ‘squirrel pox’ they carry. The project provides refuges from greys, which, if they got into the Highlands, could wipe out all our existing reds.
Overall aim
The aim of the Highland Red Squirrel survey was to create a comprehensive, up-to-date map of red squirrel distribution across the Scottish Highlands. Historically there has been little monitoring of red squirrels across the region and no systematic surveys of distribution. Reintroductions have increased the species’ range, so we considered a detailed map of distribution to be a valuable tool to assess the impact of these conservation efforts and to provide a baseline against which to monitor future changes in range.
Name of species translocated
Sciurus vulgaris
Monitoring form type
Translocation generic records
Project timeline
From 2008-2025, captured individuals from Inverness-shire, Moray and Strathspey were translocated to northwest - Scottish Highlands: Dundonnell, Loch Broom, Alladale, Shieldaig, Coulin, Plockton, Letterewe, Reraig, Attadale, Inverewe, Spinningdale, Lochaline, Golspie, Arisaig, Drimnin and Ratagan
Funding body
Funding from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species
European Outdoor Conservation Association (ECOA)
the Orp Foundation
Project team - organisational or group members
Woodfin, S. & Priestley, B. (2025)
Collaborators: Partnership with private landowners and communities across the northwest Highlands, Forestry and Land Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels and Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Collaborators: Partnership with private landowners and communities across the northwest Highlands, Forestry and Land Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels and Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Translocation aims
Species recovery (restoration to all or part of a species’ range)
Translocation aim explanation
The aim of the Highland Red Squirrel survey was to create a comprehensive, up-to-date map of red squirrel distribution across the Scottish Highlands. Historically there has been little monitoring of red squirrels across the region and no systematic surveys of distribution. Reintroductions have increased the species’ range, so we considered a detailed map of distribution to be a valuable tool to assess the impact of these conservation efforts and to provide a baseline against which to monitor future changes in range.
Country
Scotland
Region or locality
northwest - Scottish Highlands: Dundonnell, Loch Broom, Alladale, Shieldaig, Coulin, Plockton, Letterewe, Reraig, Attadale, Inverewe, Spinningdale, Lochaline, Golspie, Arisaig, Drimnin and Ratagan
How many release sites?
16
Images
Species
Species benefits
Improved national status of species
Improved genetic diversity of species
Scientific benefits
Improve translocation practice