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Rare Red Squirrel Colony Discovered Thriving in North Yorkshire
12 Oct
Summary
- Rare red squirrel colony found in North Yorkshire plantation
- 16 red squirrels spotted, showing breeding success
- Volunteers and conservationists working to monitor and protect the colony
In a significant conservation victory, a rare colony of red squirrels has been discovered thriving in a tree plantation in North Yorkshire. The colony was first identified in January 2025 by Julie Bailey from the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA), a partnership of forestry and conservation organizations.
Since then, volunteers, conservationists, and landowners have been working diligently to monitor and protect the colony. As of October 12th, 2025, a total of 16 red squirrels have been spotted in the sitka spruce plantation in the western Yorkshire Dales. Julie Bailey, from the UKSA, is "very encouraged by the squirrels' persistence and breeding success" in this rare habitat.
The discovery of this thriving red squirrel population is being hailed as a "super-exciting" success by conservationists. The collaborative efforts to safeguard this endangered species have paid off, providing hope for the future of red squirrels in the region.
