The Stewartry’s very own version of The Tufty Club has had an immediate impact.
Robin Hood recently installed signs outside his home on the banks of Loch Ken warning motorists of red squirrels in the local area.
And they have paid off with drivers dropping their speed on the A762 dramatically.
Mr Hood, who lives near Mossdale, said: “It’s important because it’s one of the last red squirrel havens in Dumfries and Galloway.
“I put the signs up about a month ago asking people to slow down, then ones thanking them and the response has been great.
“Everyone is slowing down. They are coming past the house at 15 miles per hour. Even the lorry drivers working for the forestry are slowing down.
“Last year a squirrel got run over and I nailed it to a tree warning people about what happens if you don’t slow down but it didn’t have much of an effect and I got some negative comments on Facebook.”
Last year, the Stewartry’s red squirrel population was hit by an outbreak of squirrelpox. However, Mr Hood’s actions ensure some of them are thriving.
The signs cost around £100 and have proven to be money well spent – although the squirrels are now hitting the Southwest RNR boss’ pockets in another way.
He laughed: “They are costing me a fortune in nuts – a bag costs £40 and it doesn’t last two weeks!
“I put a squirrel feeder up but they’re crossing the road to use the bird feeder.
“There’s three that come but two of them keep shoving the other one off as it’s the weakest one.”
