![]() ![]() For more information on grey squirrel management, please see Controlling grey squirrels in forests and woodlands in the UK from Forest Research. Grey squirrel management is essential for the recovery of the red squirrel population in England. This guidance does not address grey squirrel management methods. The Forestry Commission (FC) has written this with help from The UK Squirrel Accord, its component organisations and squirrel experts. This guidance applies to England only and you should use it to inform forestry operations in any woodland with red squirrels. make sure you record any incidents involving red squirrels.consider whether to delay or move operations if you encounter active red squirrel dreys during felling operations.instruct operators to look out for red squirrels and dreys when working.leave drey trees standing, consider leaving a group of trees around the drey tree and some connectivity to adjacent tree canopies.always carry out a pre-operation check and mark red squirrel drey trees.leave connective links when planning harvesting. ![]() consider availability of nearby suitable red squirrel habitat to which the squirrels might move.avoid felling in red squirrel areas during the breeding season (February – September) -this is especially important where planning clear-felling.make sure you make effort to detect red squirrels and to locate their dreys when you draw up the harvesting schedule.make sure the forest plan considers the presence of red squirrels.The most important things you can do are to: If you cannot avoid unlawful impacts with activities as planned, you should seek specialist advice and modify activities to follow this guidance. Remember, it is your responsibility to ensure your actions follow the law. The Forestry Commission (FC) has written this with help from The UK Squirrel Accord and its component organisations. Fortunately there is a growing interest in the plight of our red squirrel and you can also help by reporting sightings of red and grey squirrels.This note sets out advice on how to plan and carry out forest operations in woodlands to minimise the possible impacts on red squirrels. Secondly, the grey squirrel carries and spreads the lethal parapox virus to red squirrels, which the greys are immune to. ![]() Firstly, the introduced, larger eastern grey squirrel from North America has displaced the reds from most of their former range by outcompeting the reds for territory and food supply. They are facing extinction from two sides. They are very rare now in the UK, with over three-quarters of the remaining population found mainly in small pockets of woodland in Scotland. ![]() Globally, there are many different species of squirrel, but there is only one native to Britain and that is the European red squirrel. They can sometimes produce two litters of three to four young a year, between March and July. Red squirrels build nests, called dreys, from sticks and moss placed high in the branches. Predators include wildcats, pine martens and birds of prey, but they are more likely to die from starvation, very cold weather and disease. Instead they hide stores of food to see them through periods when fresh food is not available. They are active during the day, foraging for food and they do not hibernate in winter. They will also sometimes eat insects, fungi and birds' eggs. Red squirrels are found in mixed broadleaf and coniferous woodland and have quite a varied diet including seeds, flowers, leaves and fruit. It is a smaller animal than the introduced grey squirrel, with a body length of 20 – 22cm. The red squirrel moults its coat twice a year but the ear tufts and the tail are only moulted annually. The red squirrel has a chestnut upper body, with a cream underside, noticeable ear tufts and a fluffy tail, which is almost the same length as its body. ![]()
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