You might picture London as a city full of grey squirrels, but red squirrels actually used to roam its parks and woodlands too. People last widely reported seeing red squirrels in London in the late 1940s, when their numbers dropped off sharply after grey squirrels arrived and brought squirrel pox with them.
Why did reds vanish? Well, grey squirrels and disease played a huge role, and now people are trying to protect reds elsewhere in Britain. Let’s look at when and why things changed—and what that means for London’s green spaces.
When Was the Last Red Squirrel Seen in London?
Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) lived all over London until the early 20th century. After that, rare sightings popped up, but no stable red squirrel population ever made a comeback.
Timeline of Red Squirrel Sightings in London
Native red squirrels were common in London until the 1920s. Their numbers crashed as the 1930s rolled in—grey squirrels spread and disease hit hard.
You might come across the odd report of a single red squirrel in recent years. For instance, someone reported a lone, scruffy-looking red squirrel around 2015, complete with a blurry photo. But these stories are one-offs, and nobody’s found solid proof of a breeding population.
Conservation groups and surveys now focus on red squirrels in northern England and Scotland, not London. They track declines and some translocations, but London hasn’t seen a real return of its native reds.
Red Squirrels in London’s History
Red squirrels used to be a regular sight in London’s parks and woods. Their decline goes back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when grey squirrels started spreading across Britain.
Grey squirrels outcompete reds for food and shelter. They also carry squirrelpox virus, which is deadly for reds. Urban development and changing land use shrank the spaces where reds could survive.
Historical records and museum specimens show that red squirrels were part of London’s wildlife for centuries. But by the 1920s and 1930s, they’d pretty much vanished from Greater London.
Unofficial Reintroduction Efforts
People have tried, from time to time, to bring red squirrels back to London. You might hear about small, unofficial attempts to reintroduce reds into bits of green space.
These efforts almost never work. They usually don’t include real grey squirrel control or proper vet checks. Without removing greys and keeping an eye out for disease, the new reds just don’t stand a chance.
Conservation groups warn that these ad-hoc releases can harm both the animals and the local environment. Proper reintroductions need planning, health checks, and ongoing management—things you won’t find in most unofficial attempts.
Current Status of Red Squirrels in London
Right now, London doesn’t have a native red squirrel population. Conservation work for Sciurus vulgaris focuses on the remaining strongholds in northern England and Scotland, not the capital.
If you want to spot a red squirrel, you’ll need to visit special reserves or islands where reintroductions and grey control have actually worked. For current maps and survey info, check out national projects and organizations that track red squirrel numbers across the UK.
Factors Behind the Decline and Conservation Efforts
Why did red squirrels disappear from London? The big reasons are competition from non-native greys, disease, and some targeted conservation work focused on habitat and population control.
Impact of Grey Squirrel Introduction
People brought grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) to Britain in the late 1800s. Greys grow bigger and eat more, so they often push reds out of the same woods.
In mixed woodland near towns, greys eat seeds and bulbs early in the season and strip tree bark, which hurts trees and takes away food reds need.
When greys move in, red squirrel numbers drop fast. Greys reproduce quickly and can live in lots of different woodlands, so they spread much faster than reds. Sometimes, land managers remove greys to protect red populations where they still survive.
Squirrel Parapox Virus and Disease Threats
Squirrel parapox virus (or squirrelpox) spreads from greys to reds. Greys carry the virus without getting sick, but it’s usually deadly for red squirrels.
If you ever find a sick or dead squirrel, don’t touch it. Report it to local wildlife groups so they can keep track of disease outbreaks.
Disease can wipe out small red populations in no time. That’s why disease monitoring, testing, and quick action matter so much for protecting reds in isolated spots.
Conservation Actions and Recovery Projects
Conservation groups usually focus on three main things: they remove or control greys, restore and connect mixed woodland, and breed or reintroduce reds where it’s safe.
If you want to help, you can join reporting schemes or volunteer for monitoring.
The Red Squirrel Survival Trust, for example, runs local projects and coordinates translocations along with grey control, hoping to boost success.
People use a few different methods—trapping greys, testing for squirrel parapox virus, creating corridors of native trees, and even trying out fertility control for greys.
Restoring ancient and mixed woodland gives red squirrels better access to food like hazel and larch, which bumps up their chances of survival.
