Cairngorm Conservation Dogs

23/10/2026

19/10/2026

16/10/2026

We’re on the case 🔎

If you live or spend time in Aberdeen please keep your eyes peeled and report any sightings here: https://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/

12/10/2026

Huge congratulations to Tarka’s litter sister Mauya on passing her assessment to become a human remains detection dog with her handler Angus Steven - proud sister!

09/10/2026

Day 4 of : Let your socials know about red squirrels

Repost some red squirrel conservation content, share our posts to the group chat, help to steer the algorithm so more people become aware of red squirrels

Red squirrels appear in European folklore as messengers, from the Norse god ‘Ratatoskr’, who was said to carry messages along the Tree of Life, to the Irish warrior Queen Medb's squirrels which would relay messages between earth and sky. Today, you can act as the messenger for red squirrels. Read up about them on our website, do your own research online, and leave a digital footprint for these endangered fluffballs

Daily reflection: What conservation practices boost red squirrel populations?

Red squirrels are endangered due to the human-caused introduction of the American grey squirrel between 1876-1929, as well as habitat loss. The grey squirrel has better foraging efficiency than reds, and outcompete red squirrels for food and habitat. Grey squirrels can carry squirrel pox virus, which they are immune to, but is fatal for red squirrels. This disease is the main cause of red squirrel decline across the British Isles

To mitigate the spread of squirrel pox, grey squirrel populations are managed by shooting and trapping individuals. Grey squirrel management must be carried out humanely using approved methods only. More recently, alternative management methods are being researched, such as a fertility control method, a squirrel pox vaccine, and a gene drive for grey squirrels where new grey squirrels would all be born male. Additionally, pine marten reintroductions have been shown to reduce grey squirrel numbers; grey squirrels, having not co-evolved with pine martens as a natural predator, are more easily predated on. As grey squirrel management increases, red squirrel reintroductions can also take place to boost populations.

You can read more at https://squirrelaccord.uk/squirrels/grey-squirrel-management/

BONUS: Attend UK Squirrel Accord's webinar today at 11:30! https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WNETlIRfQfq6syw4if8DxA #/registration



Photo credit: Gordon Roach

07/10/2026

And we're off!

We've started the 2026 Pine Hoverfly surveys by finding...Pine Hoverflies 👀

It is a great start to the survey season and encouraging that, so far, plenty of the rot holes are holding water.

We also found Batman Hoverfly larvae (Myanthropa florea), Leafwalker Hoverfly larvae (Xylota sp) and Pinewood Longhorn Hoverfly larvae (Callicera rufa), a Nationally Scarce conifer specialist 🪰

Without deadwood, these beautiful creatures, and important pollinators, cannot exist.

Deadwood is full of life 💪

Thanks to our wonderful volunteers for their help and excellent company 🫶

[Image: a survey pot containing Pine Hoverfly larvae found today]

RSPB Scotland Cairngorms National Park Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) NatureScot Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Butterfly Conservation Scotland

07/10/2026

Unfortunately we’ve had to postpone our demonstration today. This will be rescheduled and there will be more events to come too 🐾 apologies to everyone who had booked, we look forward to hopefully meeting you soon!

Want to meet the Cairngorm Conservation Dogs team and see them in action?

Book your free ticket to our scent detection dog demonstration in Aberdeen on Wednesday 7 October here: https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/our-events/scent-detection-dog-demonstration/

We're running the event as part of our celebration! The event is open to everyone but places are limited so the dogs can do their thing, and please leave your own pooches at home!

06/10/2026

We’re joining the ! Look out for squirrels this week (red and grey) and report them to the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels website.

06/10/2026

We’re honoured to have our work for red squirrels acknowledged by a motion in The Scottish Parliament! The Scottish Environment LINK Nature Champion for red squirrels, Alexander Burnett, lodged the motion to celebrate the and recognise our effort to inspire action for red squirrels and the innovative methods we’re using to protect red squirrels in Scotland for future generations.

Read the full motion here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S7M-01344

📷 Raymond Leinster

NatureScot Net Zero Scotland Scottish Wildlife Trust
Forestry and Land Scotland RSPB Scotland Scottish Land & Estates Aberdeen City Council Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park The Scottish Government