Red Squirrels

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1. There have been increased sightings in recently of the introduced grey squirrel, especially in areas around Aberdeen City where they were introduced to parks around 30 years ago. Evidence from elsewhere in the UK suggests that grey squirrels will eventually force out red squirrels from their traditional territories. The purpose of this plan is to monitor areas where red squirrels and to make sure these areas are managed to increase the red squirrel population.

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2. The red squirrel is protected in most of Europe, as it is listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention.

it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List

As the grey squirrel continues to spread there is concern that red squirrels may disappear completely from mainland England and Wales within the next 20 years. The future of the red squirrel in Scotland is also not secure.

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3. The reason grey and red squirrels coexisting is having a negative affect is due to the grey squirrel’s ability to have a wider range of diet than the red squirrel’s as they can digest acorns more efficiently than red squirrels and can eat hazelnuts before they are ripe.

New housing or other development may also pose a serious threat to red squirrel colonies, by isolating or destroying red squirrel communities.

The minimum area of woodland required for a squirrel colony to be self-sustaining, is 200 hectares. This can include adjoining woodlands, but any disruption of these areas could damage the existing population.

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4. The main aim of the wildlife population plan is to protect the red squirrel from extinction.

Current action in place: The Scottish Squirrel Group is represented on the UK Red Squirrel Group, which co-ordinates red squirrel conservation throughout the UK.

The Scottish Squirrel Group are encouraging all squirrel groups to identify priority areas where red squirrel populations appear stable, and which can be targeted as a focus for conservation management.

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5. In order to achieve the objectives of the plan the targets are: maintaining self-sustaining populations of red squirrels in areas where red squirrel populations are healthy and where grey squirrels are currently rare or absent, and protecting or expanding red squirrel populations that are currently threatened because of isolation, small size or proximity to grey squirrel populations.

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6. Methods of conserving the red squirrel include: holding workshops, locating core areas, prioritising areas, speaking to landowners, controlling grey squirrels and promoting research.


A factor to consider when carrying out a population management plan is the cost of each method e.g. research.

When managing a wildlife population it is important to consider factors such as space, food and water, predators, weather and disease and natural disasters. It is also important to discover if the population is able to self regulate.

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7. A mark, release, recapture survey gives estimation of a population number at a particular time.
Following a group of red squirrels from birth to death gives data that is easy to draw conclusions from.
A survivorship curve shows the number of red squirrels that survive per thousand.
A population pyramid allows data from males and females to be easily compared with males on the left and females on the right.
A life table details numerical data such as how many red squirrels are in each life stage. The problem with this method is it is difficult to interpret.

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