Locals urged to watch for sick squirrels to curb potential squirrelpox outbreak. Protect Bridge of Allan’s red squirrels.
Gail Turney manages the squirrel project. She is grateful for public reports. Bridge of Allan residents must act fast to protect the local red squirrels right away.
Remove all wildlife feeders for one month. This helps stop disease from spreading. Keep watching for ill or dead red squirrels. Take pictures of any sick squirrels you find.
Email the photos to squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. They want to know what’s hurting the squirrels. Winter can make them vulnerable to several illnesses, such as Squirrelpox.
Squirrelpox is a virus that hurts reds. Grey squirrels carry it but aren’t affected. It quickly kills red squirrels when they catch it. Sick red squirrels get ulcers and scabs.
Lesions show up on their face, paws, and genitalia. Squirrels can’t eat, drink, or move around. Squirrelpox is fatal within two weeks and makes populations crash.
Scotland’s first outbreak was near Lockerbie in 2007. Since then, it spread across southern Scotland. In spring 2024, a red died north of the Central Belt in Dunfermline. The Royal (Dick) School confirmed this death, the first in that area. Squirrelpox seriously threatens northern red squirrels.
Report all red and grey squirrel sightings at scottishsquirrels.org.uk. Also, email photos of sick reds, using squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk.