Red Squirrels United: LIFE14 NAT/UK/000467 SciuriousLIFE

24/09/20181

Mariella Marzano & Mike Dunn

Motivations and challenges of volunteering for red squirrel conservation

RSU/Sciuriosity

A UK-wide partnership working together to secure the future of our red squirrels protecting nine main red squirrel populations

Partnership of eight organisations led by The Wildlife Trusts

Working across England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Significant investment by EU LIFE and Heritage Lottery Fund of approximately £3 million

Four year programme (2015 - 2019)

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Red and grey squirrel distribution in the British Isles in 1945 and 2010. Copyright Craig Shuttleworth/RSST

Engagement through the project

More than 400 community engagement events held

reaching over 25,000 people

206 volunteer trainings events held

Four new volunteer groups set up

More than 1,600 volunteer interactions

Two annual knowledge fairs held attended by approx. 90-

100 people each

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• Nationwide survey on public attitudes towards squirrel and their management (n = 3758) – publication Biological Conservation

• Interviews/focus groups in case study areas with volunteers (n = 50+), project staff (twice) and local landowners (n=21+)

• Short community survey around knowledge of local action and barriers to involvement (~134 to date)

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Knowledge & Attitudes Research

Survey data – attitudes

Opportunities

• Red squirrels are highly valued and people want to see them. Generally support conservation

Challenges

• Red squirrels not everywhere so people like grey squirrels too

• Lack of knowledge of impacts and of conservation and management measures

• Social acceptability of control measures

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Values and Awareness

When is squirrel control acceptable?

Q. I would need to see evidence of impact before supporting any management of squirrels

…Lack of Awareness?

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Knowledge of a relationship between red and grey squirrel populations

Support for grey squirrel control measures would likely increase with greater awareness of the species’ negative impacts

Control Methods

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Contra-ception

LethalNon-lethal

Acceptability of Controls

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* Most commonly employed methods

**

Determinants of Acceptability

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Acceptability is highest amongst...

• Males

• Older generations

• Those most closely connected to nature

• Those most knowledgeable about squirrels

• Those aware of local conservation/control

Most accepting

Leastaccepting

Tell us about volunteering

• What are your aspirations for red squirrel conservation in your area?

• What do you see as the key challenges for red squirrel conservation in your area?

• Why did you start volunteering? [we would like to document your story]

• What keeps you motivated to volunteer?

• What challenges do you face in your volunteering role?

• How could your volunteering experience be improved?

• What do you think about RSU/Sciuriosity?

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Roles & reactions

• More volunteers take part in administrative, engagement & monitoring roles.

• Fewer volunteers kill grey squirrels – moral dilemma/need confidence to defend actions..

“I would have to see how I feel after the first one, ‘cause I don’t even like killing mice; I don’t like killing insects… it doesn’t sit well with me. But I think it’s a

responsibility thing, you have to do it.” (Volunteer from Merseyside)

“…I feel if I had done it wrong, I may not have continued doing it.”

(Volunteer from Northern Ireland)

• Interest in contraception and biological control

“That is wonderful really, because that’s an animal feeding on another which is a very natural way of doing things.” (Volunteer from Merseyside)

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Motivations to volunteer

• Existing interest in wildlife e.g. linked to childhood memories and sense of place

• Strong desire to save an endangered species but proximity important (practical; sense of ownership)

“Because it’s here on my doorstep, I feel I can look after stuff here. We

can see what we’re doing is working, because the red squirrel population

is going up.” (Volunteer from Northern Ireland)

• Dislike of Non-Native Invasive Species – Grey squirrels = “bullies”, “tree rats”, “greedy”, “born killers”

• Social aspects…sense of community with like-minded people; physical and mental health and well-being

• Greater knowledge, education, feedback and

respect

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Challenges

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• Finding time…majority of volunteers are retirees

• Competing with other conservation objectives (birds, bats etc.)

• Group sustainability reliant on a committed core and charismatic leader. Risky but difficult to change

• Lack of funding and training opportunities

• Difficulties of landscape-scale collaboration…impedes access; frustrates eradication efforts

• Fear of public backlash from public/lack of support from conservation landowners?

Challenges

• Need to raise awareness and attract members

• Negative reporting in media

• Public attitudes –challenge or opportunity?

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“It’s a lot easier to get them involved in other species, like the hedgehogs, they are quite happy to do that because it doesn’t mean

killing anything, but with the red squirrel thing, it means killing greys, and they are a lot less happy to get involved in that.”

(Volunteer from Merseyside)

“On a personal basis I've told lots of people about what I'm doing, but I'm also a bit guarded because I've actually lost friends as a result… who don’t like the idea of grey squirrel control.” (Volunteer from Mid-Wales)

1. Recognise that the ‘pest’ label is not absolute. Many wish to see greys, but perhaps this would change with greater awareness of impacts, or the promise of an influx of reds

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2. Substantial number of ‘don’t know’ responses from survey, representing a degree of apathy, uncertainty and people most easily swayed

3. Commonly used methods aren’t particularly acceptable and are likely considered inhumane. Their use needs to be justified, and the myth of ‘lethal = inhumane’ disentangled

4. Those exposed to conservation/controls are among the most accepting. We should be open about Sq. management, not secretive

5. Community involvement and ownership is more powerful in changing beliefs than education alone. Knowledge and acceptance may spread with effective engagement

6. There are a diverse range of volunteer roles but many are unaware of these different opportunities

Lessons learned so far

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LIFE14 NAT/UK/000467 SciuriousLIFE

Thank you