News
Red squirrel goals set out by experts
Experts from across Scotland set out ambitions to track and study iconic species in key report.
Key actions to support red squirrel populations in Scotland have been identified by experts from across the country.
Putting their recommendations into action would support the conservation and management of the iconic species and aid woodland biodiversity, according to a report from the group.
Red squirrels' low genetic diversity poses disease vulnerability
Worryingly low levels of genetic diversity make Scotland’s red squirrels especially vulnerable to disease, a study has shown.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh said this could explain why the mammals are so slow to develop resistance to the squirrelpox virus, which is carried by non-native grey squirrels and fatal to reds.
Source: The National