A campaign to introduce official red squirrel warning road signs has been launched by the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) – a move that could hold particular relevance for the Isle of Wight, one of the last places in England where red squirrels remain a common sight.
The RSST has formally petitioned the Department for Transport to add a red squirrel warning sign to the list of official UK highway signs, replacing the numerous homemade signs seen on our country roads.
The request comes just days before Red Squirrel Awareness Week, which runs from 6th October – 12th October 2025.
Vanessa Fawcett, Director of Operations at the RSST, has said:
“Definitive figures are not available but members of our UK volunteer network are increasingly concerned by the rising number of road fatalities, particularly during the breeding season.
“There are official Department of Transport warning signs for hedgehogs, deer and other animals. We believe it is time the red squirrel is added to that list.”
The Isle of Wight is one of the few areas of the UK where red squirrels have survived the decline caused by habitat loss, road deaths and competition from invasive grey squirrels.
Recent conservation work by groups such as the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust has helped maintain the population.
The Trust, which recently marked its 20th anniversary with a special programme of events, continues to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the native species.
Red squirrel numbers across the UK have plummeted from more than 3million in the 1800s to around 287,000 today. They are now classified as Near Threatened in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Grey squirrels remain the biggest threat due to competition and the spread of squirrelpox, which is fatal to reds.
Vanessa added:
“Grey squirrels are the main threat to reds. They out-compete them for habitat and food. Some also carry a pox that is harmless to them but inevitably fatal to reds. This, and the rising number of road kills, threatens the survival of our only native squirrel.”
I have a better idea, install speed cameras and
speed humps.
Kill 2 birds with a stone as they say!
Safe for squirrels and other motorists
Sooner the better
Be nice if the sign had a red squirrels rather than a black squirrel