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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
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- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
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- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
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- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
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- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Research grants // Our UK mammal projects // Returning red squirrels to Scotland

Returning red squirrels to Scotland

Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) foraging in autumnal boreal forest, Nord-Trondelag, Norway, by Peter Cairns

Parts of Scotland are perfect red squirrel habitat and have not been colonised by greys. We're working with Trees for Life to extend the red squirrels' Scottish stronghold.

Funding for this project has now finished

The problem

Red squirrels were once common across most of the UK but habitat fragmentation, competition from non-native grey squirrels and the spread of squirrel pox have decimated numbers. Today, Scotland is the species’ best stronghold, with around 121,000 individuals. However, this is only a fraction of previous numbers, and many former territories remain unoccupied.

The solution

Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in flowering heather, Inshriach Forest, Scotland, by Peter Cairns

Over three years, this project will reintroduce red squirrels to ten sites across the northwest Scottish Highlands, where there is ample excellent habitat. Donor squirrels will be sourced from disease-free areas across the Highlands and Moray and translocated to suitable forests in previously occupied parts of their range. The populations will be located in regional clusters that can expand and colonise intervening habitat, creating new core populations that are free from grey squirrels and squirrel pox. The project will develop methods of monitoring the new populations, assessing rate of expansion, habitat use and breeding. Through trialing various techniques of monitoring, new best practice guidelines will be developed that can be used to inform future reintroductions, potentially both within Scotland and elsewhere.

This work provides an exciting new key direction for red squirrel conservation in the UK. Through increasing both the number and the geographic range of red squirrels, it will provide a much-needed boost in the fight for the species’ survival.

Thank you to all our donors who helped us fund this work. You can help us support more projects like this with a donation today:

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