Westmorland Red Squirrels organisational partners again proved squirrels arrived on the scene. While crucial to the survival of our red once we might have been squirrels. The number of greys concerned if red sightings dipped, we removed was the highest since 2015 now know that available food supply and there is a continuing need for can make quite a difference. vigilance and action. But we now Please spread the word that our red have more people involved in grey squirrels remain; that they are even control and reporting their figures, thriving in some areas; but that the which is great. Red squirrel sighting situation is fragile. We need people to Welcome to the review of our reports were down but we were not report their red sightings. Above all, activities in 2018. It was a year when unduly worried, as their range remains we need people to care. the efforts of volunteers, contractors, stable. Red squirrels can be very supporting landowners and elusive; they were even before grey Geoff Hetherington, Chairman Making the future safe for our red squirrels 2018 in a nutshell Squirrels 312 4691 reds reported greys caught Events, meetings and publicity We attended 23 meetings 15 internal meetings including trustees and management team meetings, and area steering group meetings 3 external meetings including one with Northern Red Squirrels Cumbria and two of the South Cumbria Squirrel Management Forum 2 conferences 576 followers on twitter the UK Squirrel Accord in Perth, Scotland and the recorders’ conference in Carlisle We had a stand at likes on Facebook 3 media interviews 1,294 with BBC Radio Cumbria and the 12 Westmorland Gazette 295 subscribers to our E-News local events 5 talks given to community groups Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2018 Page | 2 Members at the end of 2018 124 members 313 individual 168 21 family corporate Financials for the 2018 calendar year. Income Expenditure Our most recently published accounts for the financial year 2017/18 show income as £26,916 and expenditure as £32,696 2017 reds …………….Some of our 2018 reds Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2018 Page | 3 Ambleside and Langdale AGM The year began with a coordinated Our packed AGM, in the wonderful programme of grey squirrel control surroundings of The Villa at Levens, involving Red Squirrels Northern heard about our recent activity and England rangers and volunteers from achievements. John Farmer, Chair of the neighbouring Grasmere red Cumbria Wildlife Trust, offered a vision squirrel group. Thanks to funding from of Cumbria’s future, describing the the Lake District National Park challenges facing wildlife including a Authority’s Community Fund, we decline in insect populations, habitat were able to protect red squirrels degradation, invasive species, plant that were threatened by squirrelpox diseases and loss of EU subsidies. He virus spread by invading greys. also talked about some successes, such as naturally spreading otters, red It is always great to receive kite and ospreys. photographic evidence of a red sighting. In early December Andy Two changes in officer responsibilities Phillips reported seeing two red were agreed at the meeting, with Bob squirrels in a field off the lane Cartwright elected Deputy Chair and Gail Armstrong as Secretary. between Little Loughrigg and At Troutbeck’s Spring and Christmas Skelwith Bridge and one more on the Fairs we raised awareness about red footpath around Loughrigg Tarn. squirrels and funds to support them. Fundraising Windermere Our volunteers have removed a Once again, the Hare and Hounds © Andy Phillips large numbers of greys since the at Levens generously hosted a beginning of the year and we are fundraising evening in March, where hopeful there will now be enough the food was prepared by the bar 'grey-free' territory to allow reds to staff and the bar tended by the live and breed here once again. chefs. The evening proved a great There have been some 2018 red success with Cumbria Air sightings, but the work to remove the Ambulance benefitting too. The constant flow of incoming greys has £351.46 raised for us went directly to continue apace otherwise these towards red squirrel conservation. reds will be at risk. We need as much Many thanks to all at the Hare and We’re delighted to say that The help as we can get if we are to see Hounds! Samling Hotel near Ambleside is the reds living here permanently once latest hotel to work with us on red again. squirrel conservation and support our efforts financially. We’ve started by setting up tester feeders in the hotel’s grounds as we know reds have been spotted in neighbouring woodlands. Hopefully, it won’t be long before the guests see reds running across the hotel’s lawns. Troutbeck Red squirrels produced a second Thanks go to all our corporate litter at the top of the Troutbeck members and to our corporate valley in 2018 despite the sponsors: Holgates Caravan Parks in challenging weather. Without the Silverdale, Logs Direct at Caton, the supplementary feeding they would Lindeth Howe Hotel in Bowness-on- possibly have struggled. Windermere and WCF Pets and Equestrian in Kendal. There have been red sightings lower down the valley too, near the post In 2018 we were pleased to office, near the lake on a house roof welcome two new corporate and one on a balcony across the sponsors: Skelwith Fold Caravan Park road from Brockhole. The lack of 2018 Red Sightings near Hawkshead and Langdale natural food helped with trapping Troutbeck & Windermere Leisure at Elterwater. Your support is lots of hungry greys. invaluable. Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2018 Page | 4 none were reported in Longsleddale Central Area during 2018. There were, however, Ongoing work has kept grey numbers several red sightings around the down, but we can’t afford any let-up Oxenholme, Endmoor and Old — so thanks to all those making the Hutton areas. We don’t know for effort to keep this part of our area sure, but we think these squirrels grey-free. might have been dispersing from the red population around Killington. With Red squirrels are still present in the no further reports, we assume they Kentmere valley, but disappointingly must have moved on again. cats are the most common calls I we were lucky to capture it whilst it Red Squirrel Rescue deal with. If let out all night, was resting up in a bird box. Sadly, in March we lost Bob Bradley, domestic cats will hunt wildlife and Following a quick phone call I was a former Westmorland Red Squirrels they can cause severe injuries to on my way to see the vet at Kendal Trustee, our honorary veterinary bats without killing them. Often all I College Animal Rescue Centre officer and committed can do is perform a mercy killing. (ARC). conservationist. Respected across Bats become very conspicuous and the red squirrel world, Bob was the easy to capture if they are unable to man to go to with an injured or fly away so they are often easy to orphaned squirrel. Bob would nurture help with food, warmth, safety and the ‘patient’ back to full health in his time to heal. However, I bet you’re red squirrel enclosure and, whenever thinking that any red squirrel that is possible, release it back into the easy to catch is probably already in wild. Bob developed and a poor state. This is very true and is commissioned at his own expense our hardest challenge when an innovative ‘red only’ nest box attempting to help them. The first I spent a sad but interesting and feeder. The Bradley box is still rescue call I received in my new role afternoon cleaning the lesions on a available to buy. Please contact the was from Hawkshead where a red sedated squirrel. It was given Secretary for details. squirrel kit had been caught and antibiotics, fluids and a vitamin injured by the householder’s cat. The booster and then left in a dark, quiet Following Bob’s passing , our poor squirrel had a bad shoulder room to rest. It seemed to rally a little Secretary, Gail Armstrong, stepped wound as well as obvious claw at first, eating some hazelnuts and up to co-ordinate any red squirrel marks in the hind quarters and blackberries overnight but it rescues that might be needed. appeared to be dragging its back deteriorated the next day and was legs, so I took it to a local vet for euthanized to prevent more advice. I was able to give it fluids suffering. The corpse was sent to the and it eagerly ate a raspberry. I then Animal & Plant Health Agency in spent a happy hour killing and Penrith for tests which confirmed the picking maggots that had already sad news of a squirrel pox casualty. hatched in the wounds. Sadly the Kendal College’s policy is that no vet examination revealed that it had grey squirrels will be accepted into no feeling in the hind legs and it was the ARC and they are very keen to euthanized as there was little hope work with us on red squirrel rescues.” of recovery. If you come across a red squirrel that Gail said, The second rescue call was for is alive but needs help call Gail on suspected squirrel pox. It was “I have cared for sick and injured 01524 701316 or 07917 021073. important to try to remove the sick bats for 23 years. Injuries caused by squirrel before it infected others and sightings at these locations are not Witherslack & Grange unusual, but to have them on camera This year we had photographs of red demonstrates that the southern range squirrels at six distinct locations in the of our red squirrel population remains south of our area: at Foulshaw; near stable.