Tresco's Red Squirrels

On the 18th September 2013, a mixture of twenty male and female red squirrels were released into Tresco’s woodland, joining two other squirrels that were introduced the previous year. Thanks to Tresco’s relative isolation, there are no grey squirrels to be found on the island, the non-native grey squirrels being the main reason for the low numbers of red squirrels found in the UK today. As well as invading red squirrel’s dreys (homes) and forcing the reds to have to compete for resources, the grey squirrels carry the squirrel pox virus which does not affect them but can be spread to the red squirrels, often killing them. Just three years after the introduction of red squirrels on Tresco, the population is booming, with multiple pairs raising successful litters of kittens. With feeding stations set up at the entrance to Tresco Abbey Gardens, all you must do is stand and wait quietly and as many as seven red squirrels will pounce around the tree, chasing each other playfully and noisily chomping away on the hazelnuts.