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First red squirrel kits born at sanctuary

Ben ParkerSuffolk
Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and Nature Centre A young red squirrel peaks out from a hole in a wooden nest boxSuffolk Owl Sanctuary and Nature Centre
The red squirrel kits are not expected to leave their nest for some time

Baby red squirrel kits have been born for the first time at a sanctuary, with hopes that they could be released into the wild to boost population numbers.

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, in Stonham Aspal, announced the kits were born in May after a breeding pair were partnered up in January.

England's red squirrels are close to extinction - according to campaign group Save Our Reds - with as few as 15,000 remaining across the country.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary said the kits were bred as part of a programme that would see them released into protected reserves in the wild.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and Nature Centre A woman wearing a blue and green fleece smiling at the camera.Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and Nature Centre
Zoological director Emily Quantrill said the kits would help conservation efforts for red squirrels

Zoological director Emily Quantrill said: "This litter marks a fabulous conservation effort for the protection of an endangered British species and this is a very proud moment for the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary."

The first red squirrels, three females, were brought to the registered charity in 2024.

It said it was unlikely that the kits would be seen "out and about in their enclosure until they mature and the charity asks visitors to be mindful and keep noise and disruptions to a minimum".

Liam Austin A red squirrel standing on the groundLiam Austin
Three female red squirrels were initially brought to the sanctuary

According to Natural England, causes for the decline include the introduction of grey squirrels from the USA and Canada from 1876, spreading the squirrelpox virus, which is fatal to the red squirrels only.

The group said habitat loss and weak enforcement of existing protections were adding to the problem.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said the government was protecting endangered red squirrels by tackling the threat of non-native grey squirrels.

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