Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vertebrate > terrestrial mammal > Rodent |
| Red List Status: | Endangered (Not Relevant) [EN(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | Eurasian Red Squirrel |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Sciurus vulgaris |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | Mathews & Harrower, 2020 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Red squirrels have drastically declined over the last century. This decline is attributed mainly to the introduction and expansion of grey squirrels, which outcompete red squirrels, and are carriers of the squirrel pox virus, fatal to red squirrels. Prior to the release of grey squirrels in the 1870s, native red squirrels were once a widespread and common species found in suitable habitats across England. Calculations indicate that their range has contracted by around 95% since 1876. In England, the red squirrel population is fragmented, occurring in isolated populations on the islands in Poole Harbour and the Isle of Wight, and predominantly across the North of mainland England, with patchy distributions across parts of Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and NW Yorkshire. Due to the cost and difficulty of surveying red squirrels no systematic national census of populations in England have been undertaken, leading to uncertainty around the current population of red squirrels. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Conservation of red squirrels in England heavily relies on species-specific actions, particularly in managing the competing grey squirrel population and protecting red squirrel habitat. The action plan should include the targeted management of grey squirrels. Geographic isolation has prevented grey squirrels colonising the islands, and the high density and strength of populations here indicate the populations that would be likely on the English mainland prior to displacement by grey squirrels. The survival of red squirrels in mainland England is the direct result of conservation effort, as it is highly likely the species would have been driven to extinction by the early 21st Century without the work of community groups, arms-length bodies and conservation NGOs. Funding for this work has come from government, HLF and various private sponsors and donors. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Red squirrels can benefit from habitat management that enhances habitat diversity and structure, particularly in forested areas. However, in areas where grey squirrels are present, untargeted habitat improvements may inadvertently benefit greys, increasing competition and posing a threat to red squirrel populations. In these regions, untargeted habitat improvements may not be beneficial. Conversely, in areas where grey squirrels are absent and unlikely to colonize, untargeted habitat improvements can be beneficial, as they enhance habitat diversity and connectivity, supporting red squirrel populations without the risk of grey squirrel competition. |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 6. Recovery solutions trialled |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Low - Pathogen, hybridisation, INNS |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Combination - sufficient |
| Species Comments: | Red squirrels in north of England currently monitored by volunteer groups and NGOs. Also see UK Squirrel Accord (2023) for further information. |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Remove grey squirrels in areas where red squirrels are present or could recolonise woodlands.
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Pressure mitigation
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites: Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and NW Yorkshire
Comments: Prioritise strongholds and areas where it may be feasible to eradicate grey squirrels altogether from the landscape. Consider impact of control measures on red squirrels - avoiding trapping and baiting in areas where both species are present to avoid bycatch and increased disease transmission. Explore innovative methods of grey squirrel management such as contraception currently being investigated.
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Translocate red squirrels where appropriate to enhance the genetic diversity and resilience of existing populations, improving their chances of long-term survival and adaptability as identified in the Conservation Strategy for the species to be published in 2025.
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: Pressure mitigation
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments: Prioritise strongholds and areas where it may be feasible to eradicate grey squirrels altogether from the landscape. Consider impact of control measures on red squirrels - avoiding trapping and baiting in areas where both species are present to avoid bycatch and increased disease transmission. Explore innovative methods of grey control such as contraception currently being investigated.
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Develop through research innovative long-term solutions to the main threats to red squirrel recovery.
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments: Solutions could include a vaccine for squirrelpox virus, contraceptives for grey squirrels, gene drive. An effective vaccine could benefit reds by provided some protection from disease and potentially reducing transmission risks from greys. Contraceptives should be administered in a manner that poses little risk of spillover to other species e.g. red squirrels or pine marten.
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.