Wildlife corridors for red squirrels
Cally Quigley
Wildlife corridors for red squirrels; defining and modeling contiguous and non-contiguous habitat for connecting woodland patches
Within the field of conservation biology there is some debate over what actually constitutes as a wildlife corridor for red squirrels, and the impacts of such corridors increasing connectivity between suitable areas of habitat. However there is little doubt that connectivity between small isolated populations is necessary to maintain their demographic population and genetic diversity.
This project aims to identify appropriate mechanisms or corridors to link the habitats.
- Examine squirrel movement through existing and potential corridors, examining a range of contiguous (hedgerow) and non-contiguous habitat.
- Determine the requirement of a wildlife corridor to allow red squirrels to move between habitats.
- Provide information to the Wildlife Trusts in Cumbria and Northumberland on habitat connectivity for red squirrels.
- Provide information on hedgerow usage by mammals using non-invasive hair trapping techniques.
This project is funded by the Peoples’ Trust for Endangered Species; I’m working at the University of Cumbria with the help of Forest Research in Edinburgh and the staff at the Wildlife Trusts in Cumbria and Northumberland.
For further details, contact: Cally Quigley, Research Intern, Centre for Wildlife Conservation, University of Cumbria, Newton Rigg, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0AH. Tel: +44(0)1768 893719. Email: