welcome to the red squirrels united knowledge fair 2019
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the Red Squirrels United Knowledge Fair 2019
LIFE14 NAT/UK/000467
Red Squirrels United:A nationwide approach to red squirrel
conservation
LIFE14 NAT/UK/000467
Nikki Robinson
The Wildlife Trusts
Squirrels in the UK
Red and grey squirrel distribution in the British Isles in 1945 and 2010. Copyright RSST
Red Squirrels United: Overview
A UK-wide network working together
to secure the future of our red
squirrels uniting conservationists,
volunteers and academics
Partnership of eight organisations led
by The Wildlife Trusts
A scientifically robust programme of
conservation, protecting nine main
stronghold red squirrel populations
Red Squirrels United: Mission
Support & engage local communities carrying out red squirrel conservation
Monitor squirrel populations and prevent the further spread of non-native
grey squirrels
Underpin our conservation work with the latest scientific research
Share knowledge and best practice on invasive alien species management
Conservation areas
Where are we at? 90% of the early warning and rapid response system delivered by community members in
Northern England in 2018 exceeding target of 75%. It is anticipated that this will be 100%
volunteer delivered by the end of the project
Autumn 2018 monitoring results detected the highest ever number of red squirrels at
Ainsdale Nature Reserve in Merseyside
No grey squirrels were found on Anglesey in 2018 and red squirrels were sighted in
Snowdonia National Park for the first time in 50 years!
Red squirrels were caught on camera in the Northern Irfon Forest, mid-Wales. These are
the first known records of red squirrels in this forest for more than 20 years!
Mourne Mountains eradication zone in Northern Ireland is almost complete with the focus
now moving towards reinforcing the buffer zone
Successful red squirrel reintroductions/reinforcements took place in Silent Valley, Northern
Ireland and Clocaenog Forest, north Wales
Engaging the communityMore than 100 media articles including print and online media and has featured on
several national television programmes such as BBC Countryfile and BBC
Springwatch
More than 600 community engagement events reaching more than 30,000 people
Over 300 volunteer training events
More than 2,000 volunteer interactions with over 1,000 volunteers in community
groups
Two annual Knowledge Fairs attended by more than 200 delegates
Six new volunteer groups established and one refreshed and constituted
West Tyrone Red Squirrel Group
North West Red Squirrel Group
Glens Red Squirrel Group
BallygalleyBiodiversityGroup
Ards Red Squirrel Group
Tollymore Red Squirrel Group
Ring of Gullion Red Squirrel Group
Fermanagh Red Squirrel Group
Strabane Red Squirrel Group?
BroughshaneRed Squirrel Group ?
CastlewellanRed Squirrel Group
Pre Red Squirrels United
Post Red Squirrels United
Monitoring squirrel populations
All project areas have an early
warning/rapid response system in place
Conduct monitoring activity twice a year
Monitoring squirrel populations: RSU zones, Northern England
19 people involved
45 surveys delivered by volunteers = 90%
(Project target = 75% by 2019)
Anticipate monitoring surveys will be 100%
volunteer delivered by end of project
Monitoring squirrel populations: RSU zones, Northern England
Results:
Squirrels (either species or
both) detected in 58% of
surveys
Red squirrels only: 13 surveys
Grey squirrels only: 13 surveys
No squirrels: 21 surveys
Both species: 3 surveys
Monitoring squirrel populations: Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland 2018 presence/absence monitoring: Volunteer experiences of the survey
Monitoring squirrel populations: Northern Ireland
Pine Marten
Red Squirrels
Grey Squirrels
NI Presence / Absence Survey
Monitoring squirrel populations: Squirrelpox virus
Grey squirrels
asymptomatic carriers
Generally fatal to red
squirrels
Highly contagious
Two outbreaks in Formby,
2018
Monitoring squirrel populations: conservation dogs
Training workshop held in
June 2018
First fully trained squirrel
detection dog in UK
Can search an area the
size of a football pitch in
under one hour!
Help to prevent spread of
Squirrelpox virus
Monitoring squirrel populations: Anglesey
Approx. 230 island garden and woodland
feeding stations on Anglesey
Camera traps do not always pick up images
of grey squirrels present at a location
Engaging with LIFE Laserfence to establish
efficacy of laser as grey squirrel deterrent
Protocol developed in partnership with
RSPCA and North Wales Police for when
grey squirrels accidentally trapped and
transported in motor vehicles
Prevent further spread of grey squirrels: Gwynedd
Eradicate grey squirrels from 1,500
hectares of woodland in Gwynedd
Intensive trapping undertaken by 4 full
time/seasonal contractors plus volunteers
Dispatched more than 8,000 grey
squirrels since beginning of project
Assessing effect of culling upon grey
squirrel genetic diversity
Prevent further spread of grey squirrels: Mourne Mountains
Mourne plain almost cleared of
grey squirrels
Responsive shooting and trapping
Reinforcing the buffer zone
Refining the early warning and
rapid response system
Prevent further spread of grey squirrelsApproximately 90 households participating in urban Trap Loan
Scheme (TLS) in Merseyside. 11 volunteers engaged in grey
squirrel control through TLS
Approximately 119 volunteers participating in TLS in mid-
Wales, 100 volunteers engaged in grey squirrel control through
TLS
Permission granted to use Kania Trap with a live capture trap
in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Scientific research: Newcastle University
© P Muldoon
Assess impact of conservation actions
Compares and contrasts different
approaches used within RSU
Records control effort over space and
time
Measures effectiveness of control
management strategies
Forest Research
• Research attitudes in case study areas and wider population• Monitor and assist with engagement and outreach• Identifying gaps & assisting with knowledge transfer • RSU project evaluation and legacy
Knowledge & Attitudes Research
• Nationwide survey on public attitudes towards squirrel and their management (n = 3758)
• Interviews/focus groups in case study areas with volunteers (n = 35) and project staff
• Short community survey around knowledge of local action and barriers to involvement (~134 to date)
• Landowners and other important local stakeholders
02/04/2019
Knowledge sharing and best practice
© P Muldoon
Knowledge Fairs
Best practice guides
Videos
LIFE and Non LIFE project interactions
© Peter Muldoon
What next? Red Squirrel United LegacyOne more Knowledge Fair
Dissemination and evaluation actions
Assessing project impact
New volunteer groups and additional volunteers
Best practice guides
Best practice videos
Modelling data to inform future grey squirrel management strategies
Results from assessing impact of grey squirrel control upon disease
prevalence
