Anglesey the island of choice

Headlines

Anglesey red squirrel video Watch the latest footage from Pentraeth forest

England set to abandon red squirrels full story...

Red squirrel News Hear the latest from Wales and the UK

Llys Llewelyn - Accomodation & Countryside Centre on Anglesey

Grey squirrel bounty scheme

Volunteers required!!

Learn more about grey squirrel damage to woodlands...

Squirrel Photographs Wanted Send us your red squirrel snaps...

Forestry Commission aid red squirrels with new tree planting scheme full story...

Red squirrel webcam

The Esmé Kirby Snowdonia Trust...

Let us hear your thoughts Why not take part in the Latest survey...

Squirrel cartoons and funny images click to view...

Wild red squirrel video gallery latest footage...

Free Vote Caster from Bravenet 

Hand rearing red squirrels Find out more...

Anglesey Red Squirrels

Local Support, Local Action, Local Success

We hope that this site will allow you to learn more about our red squirrel work on Anglesey. If you wish, it will also allow you to actively support and get involved in red squirrel conservation on the island.

Local support has proved to be invaluable in the conservation of the native red squirrel. The Anglesey red squirrel population is now the second largest population in Wales, and it is the only Welsh population which exists without grey squirrels. Anglesey also contains the only broadleaved woodland sites where breeding red squirrels can still be found.

The Anglesey Red Squirrel Project is one of a number of projects undertaken and managed by Menter Môn. To learn more about the company and it's environmental, community and business enterprise schemes click here...

Want to find out more about the Anglesey red squirrels? Well, it's simple, just click on the links and navigate through our site.

Iolo Williams

A Message of Support from Iolo Williams - TV Presenter, Wildlife Expert and our Patron

'I remember red squirrels being common around my home in the village of Llanwddyn in north Montgomeryshire but when I return these days, I see nothing but greys.  I have followed the success of the Anglesey red squirrel project with great interest because it is so heartening to see the reds striking back.  Thanks to the dedication of a few individuals, our native squirrel can once more be seen in several Anglesey woodlands and eventually, I would love to see greys eradicated from the whole of Britain.  This is unlikely to happen in my lifetime but  with the work on Anglesey going from strength to strength, at least there is some hope for future generations.'

2006 & 2005 news archive

2007 news archive

 

Latest News:

Local Support, Local Action, Local Success - JOIN ONLINE

Red squirrel at Plas Gwyn 2003Active community support is an essential component in any successful conservation project. We recognised this fact very early in our project, and consequently we established the first red squirrel ‘Friends' group in the UK back in 1999. The 'Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels' now has a membership of over 400 people and groups who all share our aim to 'Save Our Squirrels'.

We are therefore very pleased to announce that you can now become a member of the 'Friends' online! Membership and merchandise can now be purchased in our online store

Number of Grey squirrels killed on Anglesey during 2008:- 56

 

Red squirrels set to return to another historical site - Mar 08

We are delighted to announce that red squirrels will be reintroduced back into an extensive mature broadleaved woodland on the island. The site remains confidential for the time being, but the landowner has agreed to allow red squirrels to be release during the autumn of 2008. Trapping teams are currently working within the site to ensure that grey squirrels are absent, and red squirrel release enclosures will be constructed in the summer months. This is an exciting development, and takes us one step closer to our vision of making Anglesey into one of the largest red squirrel refuge areas in Great Britain. We will update on this news item later in the year.

Suspected squirrel pox outbreak - Hunt is on for grey squirrels- Feb 08

Let us know if you have seen a grey squirrel on AngleseyIn the light of the recent death of an Anglesey red squirrel from suspected 'squirrel pox' virus, the Anglesey Red Squirrel Project have begun trapping in woodlands adjacent to the Mynydd Llwydirath (Pentraeth) forest. We are keen to hear of any grey squirrel sightings from the island since January of this year. The removal of the last few remaining grey squirrels is now even more important than ever. If you have seen a grey squirrel please let us know either by email or telephone. Please see our contact us page for details.

Suspected squirrel pox outbreak in Pentraeth forest - Feb 08

Squirrel pox virusSeventy four adult red squirrels, including sixteen pregnant females, were caught in Pentraeth forest during mid February. However on Sunday 17th a young female was found showing classic symptoms of the deadly squirrel pox virus. Download the Video

The Pentraeth animal was taken to the Welsh Mountain Zoo at Colwyn Bay where it was given emergency treatment including antibiotics. The antibiotics do not help combat the virus, but they will combat bacterial infection of any skin lesions caused by the virus. Unfortunately the animal died within 24 hours and the body has now been sent for post mortem examination and a series of tests which will be carried out by DEFRA to confirm if the virus was present.

Yearling female red squirrel which is suspected to have died squirrel pox virus Feb 2008 - Pentraeth forest, Anglesey, North WalesThe risk of pox virus is of serious concern, and the Anglesey Red Squirrel Project have taken emergency measures aimed at minimizing the risk of any infection. The disease is carried by grey squirrels and is almost always fatal to the native red squirrel, so it is important that infected animals are found before the disease can progress. Local residents who have red squirrels visiting their garden bird-tables are also keeping a careful watch on the animals.

Webcam Image Archives - 2007 & 2008

Red squirrel advance continues! Jan 08

Broadleaved red squirrel feeding hopperEight grey squirrels were caught in January 2008 across the southern broadleaved woodland on Anglesey. These stands were once home to over a thousand grey squirrels, and contained woodlands where bark stripping damage to hardwood tree species was often severe. The area now contains a small pocket of red squirrels which were reintroduced in 2007. We were surprised to catch one adult male some 4km to the west of the release site, in a block of mature oak and Yew woodland. This is the first record of a wild red squirrel in this area since the mid 1980s, and we hope that it is the beginning of a wider recolonisation by this enchanting little animal.

Membership and merchandise can now be purchased from our online store

 

Initializing...
Cute little red squirrel About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Webmaster | ©2005 The Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels