Leaps of Joy

By Jennifer Harnden November 2023

What an absolutely wonderful experience it always is to see and photograph wild red squirrels as I did earlier this year. Seeing a wild red squirrel in many parts of England, can be quite rare, so travelling to an area where they are known to be was very exciting. This day had been planned so that I could enjoy the day with my camera, in the area of outstanding natural beauty, the Yorkshire Dales. I would then continue on my way to the airport to jump onto a plane to visit some of my family. So, this day was a great start to my trip.

Shy and Striking

It was a cold March day as I began a short walk in a beautiful private woodland, together with the land owner/professional wildlife photographer, equipped with my camera, spare battery and memory card, and lots of enthusiasm. Not long into the walk, about ten minutes or so, I stopped in my tracks suddenly, I wondered if the distant rustling sound in the leaves was a red squirrel? Yes, it was! Keeping very still and I enjoyed the moment without my camera at first, keeping very quiet. A busy red squirrel squirrel, minding it’s own business, was squirrelling around in the undergrowth looking for nuts. Fantastic! Then there was another, and then there were three…and after a few minutes they all vanished out of sight again. I then carefully unpacked my camera and got set up, ready and poised for the next opportunity. I just knew this was going to be a good day for photography! They appeared again, finding a delicious nut or two and then, the striking red beauties would scuttle away leaping through the woodlands with their bushy tails swishing behind them. I ensured my lens was set to the correct distance setting (my options were full range/10 meters /closer range from 2.2 meters to 10 meters), however, I still had a slight technical issue with my camera as it was really struggling to focus at one point. After a little head scratching, I was back in business, it was a just simple case of being in the incorrect focus mode! Phew! That little matter sorted, I was in my element, waiting for the next right moment!

Later in the day, I situated myself into one of the hides that were in the woodland, my guide and knowledgeable host shared (in a whisper so that the squirrels were not frightened off) some helpful tips and stories about his very inspiring photography adventures! After a little while he then set about to ensure the feeders in the rest of this private woodland were replenished, whilst I was hoping and patiently waiting for the timid red squirrels to appear again and I then continued taking my photographs. I was certainly glad of the number of layers I had put on that morning, together with hat and gloves, albeit fingerless ones so that I could quickly access and control my camera, it was certainly cold! A special thanks to having expert guidance and an opportunity to visit this private woodland which provided a fantastic safe haven for wild red squirrels to live, I was blessed with some fabulous memories of my time in this particular area of the Yorkshire Dales, observing these striking wild animals and on this particular day, I captured some of my most favourite images of red squirrels to date.

Safe Spaces

Well managed conifer and broadleaf woodland areas are needed for Red Squirrels to live, and these areas can be a relatively safe haven for the red squirrels. Credit to any land owners who regularly, out of their own pockets, leave out nuts as a supplement for the squirrels to help keep a constant food supply when natural food was scarce. They recognise they are not only enchanting, beautiful, loved, fascinating and iconic native animal they are valuable role in the ecosystem in woodland regeneration. I’ve read that leaving food supplements for the red squirrels is one of the recommendations by the National Trust on their website as one way we can help maintain numbers of the red squirrels, to help them to survive.

Hundreds of years ago squirrels could leap from branch to branch in dense rich forests from one end of the country to another without even having to go onto the ground if they didn’t want to, but of course, there isn’t this kind of habitat anymore and there are many other threats for these native British and much loved creatures.

Protected Species

Red Squirrels have been protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act since 1981. Since the introduction of the more classified 'invasive' species of the grey squirrel into the country in the 19th century, people may be much more familiar in seeing the larger grey squirrel in many parts of the UK such as in parks and gardens, who are more successful at competing for habitat and food sources. It is found that these two different species cannot live long term together, and it is essential that they are kept apart as highlighted by range of sources, including the Wildlife Trust and BBC Science Focus, to name a few. Not only being more dominant in obtaining territory and food supplies, grey squirrels are also found to pass on a disease to the red squirrels called Squirrel Pox which can wipe out huge numbers in one outbreak. There is enough widely available evidence to see illustrations and information where the red squirrel population are being maintained, and also where they have vanished completely. To try to help reduce the risk of the grey squirrel completely taking over, I understand that the UK Government approved a programme in 2022 for the use of oral contraception for the grey squirrels, I think it will be really interesting to learn how this is going.

How can we help?

Supporting an organisation who are committed to the protection of the Red Squirrels in the UK is one way we can help. The National Trust website amongst other helpful websites also provides some useful guidance on other ways that can help with its survival, such as by ensuring there is a constant food supply available, they are kept healthy, feeders are cleaned regularly to reduce to risk of disease spreading, and the population of grey squirrels are monitored, and are kept to areas away from the red squirrels, all can help to maintain numbers of the iconic, native, beautiful and fascinating red squirrel.

How lovely if you happen to live in an area where the red squirrels are thriving! I feel that people who live in the UK that are able to see and enjoy these notoriously shy animals on a regular basis are very lucky.

“Hey, have you heard of the new squirrel diet? It’s just nuts!!”

Joke – source unknown

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