FAQ
1. I have red squirrels in my garden. What can I feed them?
a) Food
The most suitable foods for red squirrels are hazelnuts in their shells, beechnuts, sweet chestnuts and pine nuts. Unsalted peanuts and sunflower seeds can also be fed, but their nutritional benefits are not as great as other foods and peanuts have recently been linked to illness in red squirrels. Apple pieces provide a tasty snack.
Do not feed sweet, dried foods such as raisins or sultanas.
Red squirrels often suffer from calcium deficiency, particularly when fed primarily on peanuts. It is important to provide an extra source of calcium, particularly during summer for juvenile and female red squirrels. The calcium can be in the form of carrot pieces, bone meal, cuttlefish or a bone or antler. Alternatively “Collo-Cal D” can be added to a dish of drinking water.
b) Feeders
SoS do not usually recommend that feeders be used in areas where both red and grey squirrels are present.
As feeders are a potential location for spread of disease between squirrels, we advise people with squirrel feeders to clean them regularly. Cleaning includes removal of all organic debris (left over food, droppings etc), cleaning with a household cleaner and then spraying with a hard hitting disinfectant such as Virkon S disinfectant.
SoS do not advocate the use of selective ‘red only feeders’ as the ones available commercially have been shown not to work - small grey squirrels gained access to the food. In addition, there is a risk of disease transmission at these feeders.
Download our Supporting Reds in your Garden Information sheet to see how else you can maintain a healthy garden for red squirrels.
2. I’ve seen squirrel
These records are all entered on to a database and help to maintain an up to date picture of the distribution of squirrels. The records are also used by the University of Newcastle for a number of their studies.
Please fill out a sightings form.
3. Is the squirrel red or grey?
It can be hard to identify red and grey squirrels from coat colour only as grey squirrels can appear quite red and reds quite grey, especially in shaded forest areas. The best features to help with identification are the ears and tail.
Red squirrel ears usually have long tufts, though in summer the tufts may be quite sparse or not there at all. Red squirrel tails are usually one colour, though sometimes they are bleached towards the ends.
Grey squirrels have small rounded ears, a bit like a mouses'. Grey squirrel tails have white hairs around the edge of the tail, giving it a halo effect.
4. I've found a dead grey squirrel. What should I do?
Please fill in a sightings form including how the squirrel died, if this is obvious (eg road kill, killed by cat or dog).
5. I've found a dead red squirrel. What should I do?
We ask people to send all dead red squirrels off for post mortem as this helps with a wide variety of research into diseases, genetics and overall health of red squirrels. Contact your nearest Conservation Officer for more information or download our information sheet.
6. There's a collection of twigs in one of my trees. Is it a squirrel drey?
Red squirrels make fairly tidy 'nests' or dreys with twigs and particularly leaves. These are spherical in shape and about the size of a football. They will make several dreys in different parts of their territory and will have a separate breeding drey. Grey squirrel dreys are more haphazard and untidy. It is often very difficult to tell the difference between a drey and a large bird's nest from the ground (e.g. rook). However, squirrels will build their dreys close in to the tree trunk, out of the wind, whereas a bird’s nest will be further out in the branches. The best way to confirm either way is to see the squirrels coming and going!
It is not possible to tell for sure whether a drey is that of a red or grey squirrel, and they can both use the same drey! It is illegal to disturb a red squirrel drey and as such drey poking is not legal in the region.
7. Sick and Injured squirrels
It is better to leave a red squirrel if it appears to be ill, as they do suffer badly with shock. As a first attempt, leave some water, peanuts and apple beside the red squirrel.
However, if a red squirrel must be handled, the instructions are as follows:
- Wear gloves – for health and safety reasons
- Place the squirrel in a cardboard box, in a quiet area away from draughts and out of reach of children and pets. Ensure adequate air can circulate inside the box. Provide a source of warmth for the squirrel, e.g., a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket (but not too hot!)
- Provide water for the squirrel – if it is very young you may want to try slowly letting water drop onto its mouth from a syringe.
- Provide soft bedding, e.g. a blanket with no holes or frayed areas, but not towels as the squirrels nails can become caught in the loops of towels.
- Provide some apple to prevent dehydration (adult squirrels).
- Take the squirrel to an animal sanctuary or veterinary centre.
Ask the vet if they could take a blood sample from the red squirrel to be screened for the presence of squirrel pox virus. This could help in the treatment of the squirrel, and also with research that could benefit red squirrels across. Ask the vet to send the blood sample to:
Dr Peter Nettleton; Moredun Research Institute; International Research Centre; Pentland Science Park; Bush Loan; Penicuik; Midlothian; EH26 0PZ. Tel: 0131 445 5111
If the vet would like more information, they can contact the SoS Office.
8. Trapping and culling grey squirrels
Grey squirrels are classified as vermin and as such it is legal to trap them with humane traps and then kill them. They can also be killed by a clean shot. Download our grey squirrel control guidelines for more information.
SoS can provide training for groups or organisations on the trapping and culling of grey squirrels; contact your nearest conservation officer for more informtion.
9. They’re chopping down the trees next door – what can I do?
Red squirrel dreys are protected by law; if there is an active red squirrel drey in the tree it should not be felled. If this appears to be the case contact Natural England to inform them.
10. Road warning signs and rope bridges
Northumbria County Council have quoted a price of £900 for a pair of signs on Highways land, however permission is required from the Department for Transport to erect these signs and this is a very lengthy process. SoS does not have funds to pay for road signs.
However, it may be possible to erect a sign on private land.
Rope bridges have been used in some parts of the country with varying success. It is possible to erect a rope bridge in some locations, SoS only has funds for rope bridges within the Reserves and Buffer Zones. Please note that the bridge has to be covered by public liability insurance.
Download our Roadsigns & Rope Bridge Factsheet for more information.
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