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Following extensive trials of camera trap locations, settings and protocols at Edinburgh Botanical gardens in 2009, a two year research project is now under way in Cumbria to test the use of camera traps for red squirrel monitoring. The Queen Mary, London University led research project by John Gurnell, Corrie Bruemmer and Peter Lurz investigates [...]

Recently, a project with European funding started in Italy with the principal aim of eliminating or managing the risks posed by the introduction of the alien grey squirrel from North America, and with particular respect to conserving the native red squirrel. Full details of the project can be found on the dedicated EC-SQUARE web site.

Claire Stevenson, PhD student, Centre for Wildlife Conservation, University of Cumbria, Newton Rigg, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0AH. Email: Claire.Stevenson”at”Cumbria.ac.uk .  The Grey Squirrel was introduced to Britain in the 19th Century and is now widespread and continuing to increase its range. Understanding temporal and spatial dispersal patterns and, how different land cover types affect species movement and ecological networks is particularly [...]

Colin Bonnington is carrying out a PhD study at the University of Sheffield on the impacts of grey squirrels on birds in urban areas.

Anna Lisa Signorile, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, SL5 7PY, UK  or  Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY The American Grey Squirrel is an alien invasive species that has been released many times in several areas across the world for recreational purposes. In Britain, following multiple introductions from the USA and [...]

Silvia Flaherty, Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP. Tel. 0131 650 9172 The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), the only squirrel species native to the UK, is now considered endangered, is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and is also under legal protection. The future of red squirrel conservation will [...]

Melissa Marr A new study has started at the Insitute of Zoology, London on whether inbreeding affects the disease status of squirrelpox virus in red squirrels.

Luc Wauters The Alpine Squirrel Population Ecology Research project celebrates 10 years. Run by Italian scientists, the project is building a fascinating long-term data set on the population dynamics and food resources of red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris living in montane and subalpine conifer forests. There are new opportunities for post-graduate biologists to join in the [...]

Marta López-Darias The ecology of the invasion of the Barbary Ground Squirrel on Fuerteventura Island (Canary Islands) Background In 1965, the Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus), a rodent native to Morocco and small areas of Algeria, was introduced onto Fuerteventura Is. Two squirrels were brought in as pets, but they were soon released and the [...]