Rare red squirrel spotted in Bishopbriggs near Glasgow for first time in decades

A rare red squirrel has been spotted near Glasgow in what is believed to be one of the most southernly sightings of the species in decades.

Bishopbriggs resident Lanette Perry managed to catch the squirrel on camera as it perched on her garden fence earlier this month.

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels said the sighting is the first of its kind in recent decades and has urged others in the area to keep a close eye out.

Scotland is home to 75% of the UKs population of reds, however numbers have declined in recent years due to the spread of the invasive non-native grey squirrel.

The grey squirrel was first introduced from North America in the late 1800s and carries a squirrelpox virus that is deadly to reds.

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is working to monitor squirrel numbers and help combat the spread of grey squirrels in key strategic areas.

The group, which is led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, shared the sighting on social media.

Red squirrel in Bishopbriggs Lanette Perry

They said: “We have had a confirmed red squirrel sighting in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire! This is one of the most southerly red squirrel sightings in Scotland’s Central Belt in recent decades.

“We cannot say exactly why this pioneering red has turned up in this location.

“It is perhaps testament to the grey control efforts in areas to the north by staff and volunteers in recent years, and possibly also as a result of increasing pine marten populations in the Central Lowlands.”

Pine martens have been seen to predate more on grey squirrels than the reds.

Red squirrels were the only squirrel in the UK before the introduction of greys. It is estimated that only 120,000 are left in Scotland, with very few in England or Wales.

It can take as little as 15 years for grey squirrels to fully replace reds in an area, the greys out-compete the native squirrels for food and living space.

Destruction of habitat, through logging or development, is another big issue facing Scotland’s red squirrels today.

Anyone who spots a red squirrel is being asked to report the sighting via Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels website.