A trip to Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Sanctuary.

Hey all,

One of the less well-known attractions in the Yorkshire area is the Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Sanctuary. Since the introduction of the American Grey Squirrel in the 1870s, the decline of the native red squirrel has become evident due to both out-competition for food, over-population and the reds having no immunity to squirrel pox, which the greys carry. So basically, wherever you have greys, the reds are no longer found.

This great little woodland area is secluded and unreachable by the greys. It's pretty hard for humans to find as well, situated on the road coming out of Hawes on the way to Ingleton, at the end of a country lane in the middle of nowhere. There's a £5 fee payable to the owner which is a fair price for them to be able to maintain the woodland. You can book one of the two or three parking spaces at the Dales Museum in Hawes or get the bus which drops you at the top of the trail.

Anyway, after a short walk through the woodland (where you see quite a few squirrels running around), you reach the viewing area. It's under the forest canopy and is really dark. And these guys are quick so the large majority of my images came out blurred or out of focus, even shooting wide open at 1600 ISO.

Here's a selection of the better ones

And just to show how tame these guys are, the missus got this shot of one getting in the way a bit. I even had one climbing up my leg at one point.

Thanks for looking

Mark

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