A baby red squirrel is being hand-reared by two nature rangers at a Devon estate, writes Louis Doree.
Flower was abandoned by her mother, Holly, who had her first litter of four at Escot in East Devon.
Initially Flower was cared for by her mother, but staff noted she was being neglected.
Nature rangers Kerry James and Victoria Sissons stepped in to save the red squirrel kit and have been successful in hand-rearing her.
Now at eight weeks old, Flower has put on weight and is taking more solid food.
Kerry said: “It is very rewarding to care for Flower and to see her developing so well – though I must admit I am pleased that the late night and early morning feeds are almost over.
“Because she did spend a few weeks with her mother and siblings, Flower knows she is a squirrel and does not mistake us for her parents. It is really great to see her becoming more independent and displaying good squirrel behaviour such as hiding her food.”
Escot Park houses free-range red squirrels in a three-quarters of an acre walk-through enclosure, the second environment of its kind in the UK designed to protect them from the far more numerous and disease carrying greys. Red squirrels have declined due to increased competition from greys and the introduction of squirrel parapoxvirus.
Owner of Escot Park, John-Michael Kennaway is the most recent recipient of The David Stapleton Award, from the Red Squirrel Survival Trust.
Mr Kennaway received the award in recognition of his contribution to saving the red squirrel in the UK through the successful breeding programme at Escot Park and for opening a free access to all red squirrel encounter at Escot park.
