Deadly squirrelpox cases confirmed in Clackmannanshire

Hollie Sutherland, the group’s project co-ordinator, said: “It is very upsetting to see red squirrels suffering and dying from squirrelpox in this area.

“We have a significant population of red squirrels in Clackmannanshire, which people are supportive and protective of.

“Monitoring and managing disease outbreaks can be extremely challenging, so support from local councils, organisations and landowners is invaluable.”

Squirrelpox was first recorded in Scotland in 2007, near Lockerbie.

Since then, cases have since been confirmed in a number of red squirrel populations in the south of the country.

There has only been one confirmed positive case of squirrelpox north of the central belt – in Dunfermline in 2024.

Six separate reports of sickness in red squirrels in the Venlaw area outside Peebles, as well as one in nearby Drumzelier, were also recorded last month.

Red squirrels are Scotland’s only native species, however their numbers have dwindled to below 220,000 due to the invasive non-native grey squirrel.