SEARCHING for red sqirrels has become something of a quest for Bob and Pam Bell.
The two have been busy researching the elusive creatures at Balloch Wood, near Creetown.
And when they take a walk up into their local woodland with Jess, their border collie, they are armed with binoculars, peanuts and double-sided sticky patches.
Balloch Wood, the community woodland on the outskirts of Creetown, is said to be one of the best areas in Galloway to see the red squirrel in its natural habitat.
And Bob and Pam, who are members of the Balloch Wood Community Project, were keen to become involved with the red squirrel conservation and monitoring project there.
They keep an eye out for any visible signs of squirrels, and, at the squirrel feeders within the woodland, they check to see how many nuts have been removed and change the sticky patches in the feeders.
The patches are designed to catch a few squirrel hairs. Further research is carried out into the species, sex, age and condition of the squirrels. The patches are a simple technique that produce excellent research results.
Last Autumn was a strong year in Scotland, with beech mast carpeting the forest grounds and conifer trees stacked high with cones. This could bode well for the red squirrel by creating the ideal conditions for breeding.
Unfortunately this is also ideal for the American Grey squirrels, who have played a part in decimating the red population to its present state.
The South of Scotland is estimated to support around a quarter of Scotland’s endangered Red Squirrel population and a fifth of those in the UK.
Anyone interested in red squirrel projects can find out more at: www.red-squirrels.org.uk
Left: Mr Bob Bell, who has taken on the task of squirrel project officer in Balloch Community Woodland, shows one of the feeders involved in the project locally.
