The injured month-old pair were discovered cold, wet and alone near Oban before being taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA.
Fanta and Tango were discovered by a member of the public at the base of a tree near Oban on 1 April. The duo was rescued from a ditch after a Scottish SPCA Animal Rescue Officer found them soaking wet and without an adult red squirrel in sight.
One of the young squirrels was thought to have an injury to its leg potentially from falling out of its nest – known as a drey. Both Fanta and Tango were taken to the charity’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, where they received a course of antibiotics and are continuing to be cared for by the Small Mammals team.
The pair have recently been moved to the centre’s large outdoor enclosure where they are able to further recover and explore safely. They arrived on April Fool’s Day – but haven’t stopped playing pranks. The pair have each also been microchipped which will help us to monitor them long after they have been released. The Scottish SPCA release red squirrels at around 16 weeks old as by this stage, they are fully independent in the wild.
We are risk of losing this iconic Scottish wildlife
Fanta and Tango’s arrival at the Scottish SPCA coincides with the first ever Save Our Reds Day on Friday 15 May – a campaign held across the UK to protect red squirrels as a native species and their habitats. Scotland is home to 80% of the red squirrel population.
Molly Martin, from the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project, said “Red squirrels are a much-loved species here in Scotland. With their russet fur and tufted ears, they’re a real joy to spot when you’re out and about in our woodlands, and even in urban parks and gardens in some parts of the country.
“We’re lucky to have around 80% of the UK’s red squirrels here, but we are at risk of losing this iconic Scottish wildlife. Red squirrels are under threat of being replaced by invasive non-native grey squirrels, which outcompete them for food and habitat, and can carry the deadly squirrelpox virus.
“Red squirrels are also affected by habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as climate change and road collisions.
Help give Scotland’s wildlife a fighting chance
“Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project dedicated to protecting and restoring populations of red squirrels across the country. We’re proud to have support from organisations such as the Scottish SPCA, as well as members of the public.
“One of the best ways anyone can get involved with red squirrel conservation is by reporting their sightings of red and grey squirrels on our website.”
You can donate to our Wild Lives appeal today and help give Scotland’s wildlife a fighting chance.
Fanta and Tango’s care was made possible by the players of Postcode Lottery. With their support, the Scottish SPCA is able to continue on with its mission of making Scotland the best place in the world for an animal to call home.
