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Red squirrels

There are two species of squirrel in the UK; red squirrels and grey squirrels. Red squirrels are our native species and have lived in the UK for around 10,000 years, Grey squirrels were introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians in the 1800s, the first record of them escaping and establishing a wild population is 1876.
Species

Red squirrel

Red squirrels are native to the UK but are a lot rarer than their grey cousins. They live in a few special places across the UK thanks to reintroduction projects.

Habitat

Raised bog

Unlike blanket bog, which smothers vast tracts of the uplands, raised bogs are discrete entities, often individually named, and are mostly found within agricultural landscapes in the lowlands.

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Red squirrel research

During three survey periods a targeted trapping programme under licence resulted in a number of Red squirrels being trapped. DNA analysis revealed five different mitochondrial DNA haplotypes within the Mid Wales population.
Appeal

Red Squirrel Appeal

Sadly Red Squirrel numbers in the UK have fallen from around 3.5 million in the 1870s to just 120,000 today. This is why we're working hard to help Red Squirrel and improve their habitat in…

Species

Grey squirrel

The grey squirrel was introduced into the UK in the 1800s. It provides an easy encounter with wildlife for many people, but can be damaging to woodlands and has contributed to the decline of the…