Red squirrel mortality monitoring

Dr Liam Wilson at Easter Bush Pathology is the lead pathologist for the red squirrel mortality monitoring programme in Scotland, working closely with colleagues in the Division of Conservation Science at our school. This project was launched in 2005 with input from multiple collaborators, local volunteer groups and national organisations. This has resulted in collation of an extensive red squirrel mortality database and tissue biobank.

This programme involves receipt of submissions from across Scotland, post-mortem examinations, database collation and statistical analyses, which feed into many national and local conservation initiatives. Submission of these cases requires continued support from the public, local volunteers and local wildlife groups, without which this work could not be undertaken.

If you find a dead red squirrel, please get in touch with either Liam Wilson or our reception team. The submission form (link below) gives more details about how to handle, store and send the body to us for examination.

We work closely with Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels (SSRS, a project of the Scottish Wildlife Trust) and we ask that, if you find a dead red squirrel, please also:

1. Notify your Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels Regional Lead, or email the organisation so that follow-up action to protect local red squirrels can be taken if necessary
2. Report the finding on the 'sightings' page on the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels website (see link below).