FOOTAGE of a young red squirrel has raised hopes that work to boost the species' population in north Wales is proving successful after years of drastic decline.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has captured footage of a young red squirrel in Clocaenog Forest, months after releasing seven adult red squirrels in the area as part of a project to secure their future.
In 1998, there were up to 400 red squirrels in the forest, but there are now thought to be less than 50.
The new footage has provided NRW with the first evidence of breeding, capturing videos of the youngster exploring outside.
Rhys Jenkins, conservation and heritage manager for Natural Resources Wales, said: “Red squirrels are such an important part of our environment, our heritage and our culture in Wales and we have a duty to protect them for future generations.
“We believe two of the females we released have had young and the video shows one of the baby squirrels - it is a bit shaky on its feet but great to see.
“But what’s really interesting is that it has a pale tip on its tail which is characteristic of Welsh genetics.
“This has lead us to think that one of the females we released bred with a wild Clocaenog male which is really exciting – and shows how well they are settling in.”
The squirrels are being monitored closely by NRW and volunteers from the Red Squirrels Trust Wales (RST) in a national collaboration known as Red Squirrels United.
The volunteers help NRW regularly check cameras in the forest to observe how they are living. Some of the squirrels have also been fitted with radio collars so volunteers can track their movements.
Julian Mason, volunteer for Red Squirrels Trust Wales, said: “We are so pleased to see young reds jumping about and exploring the forest.
“It is a real boost to the project considering all the hard work and hours that has been put in by everyone.”
Clocaenog Forest is one of three priority areas for red squirrel conservation, along with Anglesey and mid-Wales.
NRW will continue to collaborate with the RST volunteers to track the squirrels' progress and are planning a second release later this year.
To join the project to protect red squirrels in north Wales contact beckyredsquirrel@gmail.com
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