The Red Squirrels' Plight

There is no British mammal quite like the red squirrel. It’sdelightful and charismatic demeanour has captured the hearts of many, and willforever remain an iconic species throughout the country. Yet, it’s history inBritain has been complicated and troublesome, with several odds stacked againstthem.

‘Saving Britain’s Native Squirrel’ gives an insight into thefascinating lives of red squirrels, and highlights some of the conservationpractices that support and contribute towards creating a viable future for themin Britain.

Conservation of Red Squirrels

Fortunately, conservation initiatives are leading the way to a positive future for the red squirrel. In Britain, an enormous effort has been put into conserving the red squirrel; forestry management, disease research, squirrel surveys, nature reserve management, grey squirrel control, supplementary feeding, etc. are just a few of the practises playing a role in red squirrel conservation. Organisations, local communities, and charities are working together in different ways to achieve the same goal, and in this book, a few of these initiatives have been explored and explained in more depth. 

Leprosy in Red Squirrels

The Future for Red Squirrels

It is uncertain at this time what the outcome will be for the native red squirrel here in Britain. Due to a complex web of varying issues, their numbers have declined considerably over the years, but with awareness surrounding this small tree mammal, things are beginning to change.It is clear that conservation for the species is moving in the right direction, and the actions being taken are benefitting the species, however more needs to be done to ensure a viable future.

More photographs and details of this project can be found in Rebecca's 'Saving Britain's Native Squirrel' book, and is available for purchase on request.