Red squirrels are regularly spotted across the Isle of Anglesey

Did you know Anglesey is a red squirrel stronghold? Tony Bowerman looks at conservation efforts

Red Squirrels in Wales

ICONIC RED SQUIRRELS are one of Britain’s best-loved creatures, but also one of the most-threatened. Britain’s red squirrel population has declined rapidly since the 1950s, when there were roughly 3.5 million red squirrels on these islands. Sadly, red squirrels are now limited to certain areas in Wales, Northern England, the Isle of Wight, and Scotland.

Today, there are fewer than 140,000 red squirrels in the UK. And around 75% of those are found in Scotland. Large populations also survive in Wales and the Lake District.

Red squirrel stronghold

Happily, today the Isle of Anglesey, off North Wales’ rugged Snowdonia coast is one of Wales’ best-known red squirrel strongholds.

By 1997 the population on Anglesey had dropped to just 40. Non-native grey squirrels had decimated the red squirrel population on the island through a combination of disease and competition for food and habitat. The decline was caused by grey squirrels coming over from the mainland, either via the two bridges or by swimming across the Menai Strait at low tide.

The Anglesey Red Squirrel Project, which started in 2011, aimed to create a safe haven for red squirrels on the island by managing grey populations and creating a one-kilometre deep ‘grey squirrel free zone’ on the adjacent mainland. Captive-bred red squirrels were also reintroduced to create an island-wide population. Volunteers helped with squirrel population management through checking traps and feeders, recording nest box sightings, and maintaining the website.

The Anglesey Red Squirrel Project, which started in 2011, aimed to create a safe haven for red squirrels on the island by managing grey populations and creating a one-kilometre deep ‘grey squirrel free zone’ on the adjacent mainland

Red squirrel conservation

The red squirrel population on Anglesey has now been boosted to around 700-800. Conservation efforts to protect red squirrels began in the late 1990s. Ongoing efforts to conserve and increase the population include habitat improvement, awareness raising, and controlling the numbers of grey squirrels on the island. In addition, nest boxes have been used to monitor the wild red squirrel population in Mynydd Llwydiarth (Pentraeth forest) from 2001 to 2008.

Red squirrels on Anglesey

The best places to see red squirrels on Anglesey include: Newborough Forest and Warren, Pentraeth Forest and smaller deciduous woodlands dotted across the island including on the Bodorgan Estate.