Through a post-mortem examination of an adult male red squirrel found in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has confirmed that squirrelpox is present in the population. This is only the second time the virus has been detected north of the central belt.

Squirrelpox is a virus carried by grey squirrels which does not affect them but can be rapidly lethal when passed to red squirrels. Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of which can prevent reds from eating, drinking or moving. As a result, it is usually fatal within two weeks and if left unmanaged, an outbreak can cause local populations to crash.

The potential outbreak was first alerted to Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) and the Eastern Lowlands Red Squirrel Group (ELRSG) in June, when a member of the public photographed a sick looking red squirrel in Dollar Glen. Since then, the conservation groups, volunteers, landowners and local residents have been on the lookout, reporting any sick or dead red squirrels they find.