THE number of red squirrel sightings in Northumberland has risen.

Conservation group Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) works to protect red squirrels in the region and further afield, and it has now published the results from its ninth annual squirrel monitoring survey.

The survey showed the number of red squirrels recorded catapulted by 19 per cent to 44.7 per cent from 2019’s 26 per cent.

Over 125 people were involved in the massive citizen science project surveying 253 sites, including woodlands and gardens, across seven counties. Many of the surveys were carried out by volunteers using trail cameras, feeders in gardens and walking through forests to spot squirrels.

There was a notable increase in the Harwood and Kielder red squirrel strongholds, where the natural defence of conifer forests provide some help in slowing down the greys.

Grey squirrel numbers were also up – from 51 per cent to 62.3 per cent, most likely due to favourable environmental factors such as mild winters and good autumn crops, both of which favour grey squirrel reproduction.

Red squirrel occupancy across the red squirrel regions has also remained stable since 2015, the survey identified. Grey squirrel occupancy is also up and very high at around 60 per cent on average.

Management of grey populations remains vital, said the group, in order to protect the native reds so they can continue to thrive.

On the survey results, Heinz Traut, RSNE project manager, said: “Although the number of red squirrels has risen, so have the number of grey squirrels, so it is vital that we don’t see a drop in conservation effort and hold the line until developments, such as grey fertility control, materialise in a few years.

“The results from previous years’ annual surveys show that what we are collectively doing to protect reds in the north of England is working, but it needs to be long-term with continued support if we are to continue to protect this wonderful little animal.

"We would welcome your support through joining our Friends of the Red Squirrel membership programme.”

Grey squirrels out-compete reds for food and carry a fatal virus, squirrel pox virus, which they are immune to. Over 99 per cent of reds known to catch the virus die within two weeks.

Anybody wishing to support the work of RSNE can do so by visiting: www.nwt.org.uk/join/fors-membership-form