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Red squirrels are at risk of extinction in the UK, but Trees for Life’s pioneering Red Squirrels Return project will significantly expand their population and resilience. Reintroducing red squirrels to four carefully chosen Highland woodlands will help this much-loved species to survive and thrive.

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Categories

  • Animals Animals
  • Environment/Conservation Environment/​Conservation
  • Beneficiaries

    • General Public/Humankind General Public/​Humankind
    • Other Other

    Situation

    Significant numbers of these iconic woodland mammals have been decimated by the gradual reduction of their native forest home to isolated fragments. Red squirrels are also struggling to survive against competition and lethal disease from non-native grey squirrels. To overcome the threat of extinction, red squirrels need to find woodland havens beyond the range of greys where they can thrive once again. But they can't make these journeys across vast open spaces without our help.

    Solution

    This charismatic species of the Caledonian pinewoods can be saved with your help. Trees for Life has already reintroduced red squirrels to several locations in the Scottish Highlands, where they have been successfully breeding and spreading into more expansive areas. The project will also help restore Scotland’s native woodlands, benefitting many other species, as red squirrels plant new trees by sometimes forgetting where they have buried their winter stores of nuts and seeds.

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    100%
    Categories

  • Animals Animals
  • Environment/Conservation Environment/​Conservation
  • Beneficiaries

    • General Public/Humankind General Public/​Humankind
    • Other Other