News
Storm Eowyn hits Bardarrach Wood on 24th January, 2025
Genetics project for Bute’s red squirrels
I'm really pleased that we can now officially go public about our red squirrel genetics project that will be starting on the Isle of Bute very soon. It's a 'minimally invasive' study that uses hair tubes to collect tiny samples of red squirrel hair. Essentially, the...
Bardarrach squirrels – Jan 2025
How are the squirrels in Bardarrach Wood faring at the start of 2025 ....
Red squirrels can rotate their ankles
A very interesting fact about squirrels
When a squirrel meets a squirrel ….. part 2
More fun and games from our squirrels
Rothesay Co-op Community Funding
PLEASE SUPPORT US We are delighted to let you know that our project has been chosen to be part of Rothesay Co-op's Local Community Fund for the coming year. Each year Co-op members can choose which project they wish to support. The greater the number of members who...
Three new videos to share
We have 3 new videos of our squirrels to share this month. They are: Bute Red Squirrels in the rain When a squirrel meets a squirrel Isle of Bute Red Squirrel at a feeder
Even agile squirrels get it wrong sometimes..
Some amusing incidents caught on our cameras
Identifying male and female squirrels
Watching squirrels is a very pleasant activity, next time try to decide if you’ve been watching a male or female, with the help of this short video.
Bardarrach squirrel exhibiting freezing behaviour – March 2024
This video illustrates how a squirrel can freeze when it senses something unusual or perhaps dangerous. https://youtu.be/5utRqHhve_I
Where we are Now…
updates from the Chair
Red Squirrel Project – March 2023
Our search for evidence of red squirrels in the south of the Isle of Bute continues, but March turned out to be the third consecutive month with no new evidence from our feeders. While it’s a disappointing result for all of us, especially those putting in the hours to...
Red Squirrel Project – February 2023
February 2023 has provided a very similar result to January, namely no new evidence of red squirrels. In spite of our expectations and optimism, the Mount Stuart area has so far shown zero evidence of squirrels visiting our feeders. Our feeders are now in new...
Red Squirrel Project – January 2023 Update
January has turned out to be a month that promised more than it delivered in terms of evidence of red squirrels. On 10 January we presented the findings of the Red Squirrel Project to the Bute Museum & Natural History Society. It was great to explain what we have...
Red Squirrel Project – December 2022 Update
In December 2022 we concluded our search in Cnocnicoll Wood, which lies across the road from the north end of Mount Stuart. We obtained good trail camera video clips of two red squirrels at one of the feeders, but nothing from the second feeder. Overall, it was a...
Red Squirrel Project – November Update
November 2022 marks the conclusion of our work around Loch Fad and gave us some very differing outcomes. The positive site was Bardarrach Wood, where one red squirrel at the end of October turned into two red squirrels visiting the feeder in November. They provided...
Red Squirrel Project – October 2022 Update
October 2022 was a month of changing feeder locations for the Red Squirrel Project. We had mixed results from Barmore Wood and the area around Woodend House, close to Loch Fad. We obtained video evidence of red squirrels, but they (up to two squirrels) were...