A RED squirrel has been spotted in a Scottish town in what’s believed to be the most southernly sighting of the species in the central belt for decades.
The charity Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels announced on August 16 that a confirmed red squirrel sighting had been recorded in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire.
Footage posted to social media shows a red squirrel scurrying along the fenceposts of a garden while the homeowner’s bemused dog looks on.
Katie Berry, communications and engagement officer for Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, told The National that it was unclear what had led the squirrel to an area where the species hasn't been resident in decades.
“We don’t know for sure how it got there or why it was in that particular location,” she said.
“But we do know that just north of Glasgow there have been significant conservation efforts and expansion of red squirrel populations.
“There are populations in Milngavie and Kirkintilloch as well, which are also fairly close by.
“That could be part of the reason why this one particularly pioneering red squirrel has ended up in Bishopbriggs.”
Berry said that there were no current red squirrel conservation projects taking place in Bishopbriggs but that experts were constantly monitoring where to direct resources.
🐿️ Exciting News! 🐿️ We have had a confirmed red squirrel sighting in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire! This is one of the most southerly red squirrel sightings in Scotland's Central Belt in recent decades. 🧵More info below👇 📷 Lanette Perry, Bishopbriggs pic.twitter.com/tEVEEICwcQ
— Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels (@ScotSquirrels) August 16, 2024
“Our conservation efforts are concentrated a little bit further north in Balloch and across the Trossachs,” she said.
“That because we focus on areas where we already know there are red squirrels. What we want to do is expand those populations.
“So, we currently don’t do grey squirrel control in any other areas. But as red squirrel populations expand, we are keeping a close eye on that and assessing where is best to focus our efforts.”
With that in mind, Berry encouraged residents in the central belt to record sightings of both grey and red squirrels on the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels website (scottishsquirrels.org.uk).
Berry added that while news of a red squirrel sighting in Bishopbriggs was encouraging, various pressures on the species continue to pose a challenge to conservation efforts.
“It’s a really varied picture across Scotland,” she said.
“Different things are happening in different areas.
“We have really positive stories like this one but we also have news of the squirrelpox virus, which can kill red squirrels, moving into Fife earlier this year.
“So, red squirrels populations could definitely be on the rise but we have to make sure that conservation efforts continue and that we’re really vigilant about potential threats like squirrelpox.
“We’re definitely not out of the woods yet but it's really exciting and positive to see red squirrels exploring areas where they haven’t been for decades.”
The charity is urging as many people as possible to take part in the annual Great Scottish Squirrel Survey, which is taking place between September 30 – October 6.
It calls on Scots to record as many squirrel sightings as possible via its website and helps create a snapshot of squirrel populations all over Scotland.
