Red Squirrel Supplementary Feeding: Conservation and Welfare

Supplementary feeding supports red squirrel populations in key strongholds, but must be managed carefully to avoid welfare risks.

Key Facts

Red squirrel populations in England and Wales have been reduced to isolated strongholds by grey squirrel competition.
Supplementary feeding at hoppers with grey-squirrel-exclusion mechanisms supports survival through lean winter periods.
Feeders must be cleaned regularly to prevent mould and disease transmission between individuals.
Feeding sites can concentrate red squirrels, increasing disease transmission risk — particularly squirrelpox virus.
Squirrelpox carried by grey squirrels is fatal to red squirrels with near 100% mortality.
Grey squirrel management in the vicinity of red squirrel populations is essential alongside feeding programmes.

Welfare Considerations

Supplementary feeding for red squirrels requires careful management to deliver conservation benefit without creating welfare risks. Poorly maintained feeders cause disease; feeding that attracts grey squirrels into core areas brings squirrelpox exposure. Well-managed feeding programmes are net welfare positive — they reduce winter starvation and support population recovery. Regular monitoring of feeder use and squirrel body condition is essential.

What You Can Do

Support your local Red Squirrel Trust or Wildlife Trust squirrel conservation programme.
Volunteer to maintain feeders and monitor red squirrel populations in stronghold areas.
Report sightings of both red and grey squirrels to local recording groups to support mapping efforts.
Donate to squirrelpox vaccine research that could protect red squirrels from this devastating disease.