Freedom of Information Request - Red Squirrel Capture/Re-location
Date: 04 February 2025
Our ref: SIR178688/A4979308
Information Request – Red Squirrel Capture/Re-location
Your Request & Our Response
In your letter of 19 January 2025, you asked some questions about the red squirrel translocation licence held by Trees for Life (TfL). We have answered each of your questions in turn:
Q - In the light of a licence being issued by NatureScot who has the responsibility of overseeing that due diligence had been done to ascertain/confirm that there was a surplus of protected red squirrels to allow this re-location and was this due diligence confirmed and that there was indeed a surplus of red squirrels?
It is unclear if the question is whether there is an overall “surplus” of red squirrels in Scotland, regionally or very locally at this particular woodland. At a national scale (Scotland) red squirrels have a UK red list conservation status of near threatened. However, their populations North of the highland line (where there is no impact from grey squirrels via competition/SQPV) are considered to be stable.
The application states a take per hectare and timing within the year:
“Squirrels will be caught from multiple donor sites at no more than 2/200 ha/year, to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on these populations. Trapping will occur from mid Jan-March and Oct- mid Dec of each year, to ensure that females are not heavily pregnant or with dependent young.”
The above rate of take per area is the main consideration in attempting to ensure that populations are not impacted at a local scale. The release site criteria document for the project lists red squirrels as occupying habitat at somewhere between 0.02 and 1.0 squirrel per hectare. It is unclear what the habitat is at the woods referenced but at the 0.4 sq/ha listed for Scots Pine this would mean 80 squirrels in 200 hectares with 2 of these (the permitted take) being 2.5% of the estimated population. This would be considered a reasonable rate of take from a healthy donor population.
The above rate assumes a continuous/connected woodland of at least 200 hectares as the sample location. Where the woodland is smaller and potentially more isolated a flat figure of 2 squirrels would potentially not be appropriate. Where the woodland is smaller than 100 hectares it would be reasonable to say that no squirrels should be taken as the rate then becomes fewer than 1.
Culduthel and Lochardil Woods combined seem to have an area of ~15 hectares so there are questions as to whether it would have been appropriate to take any squirrels from them. TfL may have been considering the overall population of the wider woodland habitat at a landscape scale but there are questions over connectivity of the wider woodland habitat to these particular woods. This will be followed up by the licensing team.
Q - Who has the responsibility to ensure the activity is carried out correctly, but more importantly that the activity causes no unnecessary suffering to harm to the red squirrels which are a protected species and was this done?
The application contains agreed methodology including considerations around avoidance of suffering. A trapping protocol was agreed with NatureScot at the point of licence renewal in Autumn 2022 to ensure minimum standards with regards to trapping.
A licence condition also states:
“All equipment used for the purpose of taking, transporting and releasing squirrels must be used in accordance with best practice, and constructed and maintained so as to avoid cruelty, distress or injury to squirrels.”
A health check of trapped squirrels must also be carried out to ensure they are fit for translocation. If not, they are either released or taken to a vet if required.
Q - Who undertook to ensure that the activity took place in the correct woodland, taking into account the well-being of an endangered and protected species, ie the placing of feeders and traps in the light of the woodland being adjacent to a secondary school whose pupils frequent these woodlands at all hours of the school day and was this done?
The selection of woodland sites is not defined at a local level within the wording of the licence beyond them being “in the Highland, Moray and Aberdeenshire areas of Scotland” and that they must have no present or historical cases of squirrel pox virus.
The selection of sites in terms of risk of vandalism/trap visibility etc. lies with the licence holder.
It is a condition of the licence that:
“The locations of where squirrels will be trapped are to be supplied to NatureScot at least two weeks in advance of any trapping being carried out.”
The intention of the above condition is so that the NatureScot licensing department can keep a record of trapping locations and so that area staff can be informed and be given the chance to feedback.
In the case of Culduthel and Lochardil Woods this condition was not followed and has since been followed up by NatureScot as a compliance breech. As such there was no opportunity in this case for any NatureScot comment on the location.
Q - Does NatureScot check on the outcome of these re-locations in terms of mortality or success and how is this undertaken?
The licence requires post-translocation monitoring for a minimum of five years with methods to establish distribution/occupancy of release sites. This will give an overall indication of translocation success but will not provide absolute data on mortalities. Mortality post release would be difficult to track as squirrels disperse into the habitat.
The project has a stated period of post-translocation supplementary feeding which is intended to reduce the risk of mortality in the first weeks/months:
From the application:
“Squirrels will be released via hard release, in groups of 3-6 across the available habitat. The transportation nest boxes will be secured to trees in the release area and the exit holes lightly stuffed with moss. This enables the squirrels to find their way out in their own time, once humans have left the area. Feeders will be located in the vicinity of the nest boxes so that the squirrels have an immediate food source available.”
Squirrels will be provisioned with supplementary food (mixed nuts) post-release, to enable them to settle easily into their new habitat. This will be for up to 3 months for spring releases and for up to 6 months over winter for autumn releases, with the feeding weaned down over a period of 4 weeks.”
Q - What timescale does a licence issued by NatureScot last for and are checks in place to ensure that if a licence is re-issued that due diligence has been done to ascertain the issuing of that licence is not open to abuse.
The current licence (216730) runs 15th Jan 2023 - 15th Dec 2026 (in line with the project’s applied for timeframe) and is a renewal of the previous licence (109028) which ran 16th Feb 2018 - 16th Feb 2023.
It contains a condition requiring a final return summarising the actions taken under the project. Should a renewal be requested NatureScot will consider the contents of the return, any recorded compliance breeches and any complaints received in the assessment of the new licence.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
