Residents across Stirling are being asked to remain vigilant and take preventative measures if they see sick squirrels after the Scottish Wildlife Trust received two reports of the deadly squirrelpox virus in Bridge of Allan.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, a registered charity under the Scottish Wildlife Trust, says that it has received two reports from members of the public in the town.
The residents had spotted squirrels which appeared to be lethargic and sick near Mine Wood, in Bridge of Allan.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is now urging people living locally to take precautions over the potential outbreak of the virus.
Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels – which are not native to Scotland – which does not affect them but can be rapidly lethal when passed to red squirrels.
Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of which can prevent reds from eating, drinking or moving.
As a result, it is usually fatal within two weeks and an outbreak can cause local populations to crash.
The first known outbreak of squirrelpox in Scotland occurred in 2007, near Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, and since then the disease has arisen in various red squirrel populations across south Scotland.
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In spring 2024 the first death of a red squirrel north of Scotland’s Central Belt was confirmed in Dunfermline following a post-mortem by the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
The spread of squirrelpox poses a major threat to Scotland’s more northerly red squirrels.
The two possible cases recorded near Bridge of Allan have yet to be verified and advice is being issued by Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels as a precaution.
Gail Turney, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Programme Manager, Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “We are concerned regarding this latest news and are extremely grateful to those members of the public who have brought it to our attention.
“We don’t know for certain what these squirrels may be suffering from as red squirrels can be affected by a number of illnesses especially during the winter, but as a precaution we are now asking all those living in Bridge of Allan to take immediate action and protect the local red population by taking in all wildlife feeders for the next month to help prevent any possible spread of disease.
“We are also asking the local community to keep a close eye out for, and take photos of, any sick or dead red squirrels in the area and email these over to us at [email protected].”
People can report their sightings of both red and grey squirrels at scottishsquirrels.org.uk, along with emailing photos of sick reds to [email protected].
Details for how to post carcasses to the Vet School can also be found on the site along with information on cleaning wildlife feeders with an anti-viral solution once taken in.
Although squirrelpox is not considered harmful to humans, anyone who sees a sick red squirrel is advised not to approach it, but instead contact the project immediately for advice.
Scotland’s red squirrel populations are under threat from the spread of the invasive non-native grey squirrel which, along with carrying the squirrelpox virus, also outcompetes red squirrels for food and habitat.
Greys were first introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians and have since displaced red squirrels in most of England and Wales, with about 80-per cent of the UK’s total remaining population residing in Scotland today.
A move has been ongoing in Stirling to protect the region’s red squirrel population for a number of years.
In March 2019, we told how bosses at a sanctuary for red kites had launched an initiative to safeguard red squirrels from being ran over by vehicles as they cross the road.
Argaty Red Kites, at Lerocks Farm, Doune, Perthshire, attempted to curb speeding on a rural road in a bid to save the population there. Tom Bowser, owner of Argaty Red Kites, called for a deterrent to be put in place to save the small mammals from passing traffic.
He said that 14 red squirrels had died in the prior 18 months and had been discovered lying by the roadside leading to the popular visitor attraction.
In July that same year, Stirling Council approved the erection of signage on the route warning drivers of the presence of the squirrels in the area. The signs were out up in October that year.