Project \"Lend a Hand to Nature\": Protection and Repopulation of Red Squirrels and Protection of Urban Wild Animals in the Town of Poreč

Project Name: "Lend a Hand to Nature": Protection and Repopulation of Red Squirrels and Protection of Urban Wild Animals in the Town of Poreč

The Symbols of the Project: The three baby squirrels Bim, Bum, and Bam - are our main inspiration for starting this project.

Partners in the Project:

Professional Collaborators in the Project:

Other Collaborators in the Project:

Project Starts: January 2024 - expected to last about 5 years.

Project Approval: The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) repopulation project received approval from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development - Directorate for Protection and Conservation of the Environment and Nature.

Project Status: Active

Species: European Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Species Status According to the IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)

Status of the Species in Croatia, According to the Red List: Near Threatened (NT)

Until recently, the squirrel in the Republic of Croatia was included in the Red Book of Mammals as an endangered species requiring special protection. However, according to the IUCN's Threatened Species List, the red squirrel is now categorized as Least Concern. Despite this, their population is declining, especially in towns and urban areas.

Project Description: "Lend a Hand to Nature" represents an important step in preserving the biological diversity and natural resources of the town of Poreč and promotes the coexistence of humans and nature in urban environments. The project aims at the protection and restoration of the red squirrel population and the protection of urban wild animals in the town of Poreč. The goal is to create a healthy and sustainable environment for wildlife, especially red squirrels, which are an important part of the local ecosystem.

Three Points of the Project:

1. Repopulation of Red Squirrels in the Area of the Town of Poreč and Protection of Urban Wild Animals

This point includes actions aimed at increasing the number of red squirrels in Poreč. It includes the planting of trees important for their diet, the installation of nesting houses, and feeders and waterers.

The focus will also be on the protection of other small wild animals such as birds and hedgehogs, through public education and the promotion of coexistence with wild animals in urban areas, the installation of bird feeders, waterers, and baths, hedgehog houses, and insect hotels, and the installation of traffic and educational boards in the grove between the Hospital and the Center for Social Welfare, in Bakina šumica, and at Naftaplin.

The Town of Poreč and Valamar Riviera d.d. finance the purchase of houses, feeders, water cans, and seedlings, printing of brochures and picture books, installation of boards, and provide support in the technical and moral sense of project implementation.

The executors of the project are volunteers—leaders of the Association Health Center Harmony: Conny Petö Đeneš and Draženko Požarić, and other potential volunteers who will come forward after the call for volunteers is announced. The role of the volunteer is to make a daily visit to all locations where squirrels are found and observe their health, putting food in the feeders, and changing fresh water in the drinking bowls for the squirrels, birds, and hedgehogs.

The Association Health Center Harmony (NGO) will submit the project to various tenders to obtain funds for food for squirrels and birds, as well as collect donations for the same.

The placement of the houses, feeders, and waterers will be done in accordance with the agreement and instructions of Croatian Forests.

With their knowledge and experience, the Zagreb City Zoo Institution (especially Dijana Beneta, mag. oecol. et prot. nat. and Ingeborg Bata, dr. med. vet), then Natura Histrica (director Silvia Buttignoni, mag. biol.), Healthy Town of Poreč (director Nataša Basanić Čuš - psychologist and university master of public health) and Poreč Veterinary Hospital (director Branko Jurić, M.Sc., dr.med.vet) are supporting this point of the project.

The implementation of this part of the project started in January 2024 and will last for several years.

2. Reintegration of Red Squirrels at Pical

Special emphasis is placed on Pical, an area that was once home to a large number of red squirrels but now they are gone. Activities are planned to repopulate this area with red squirrels, including monitoring and studying their behavior and needs in the new environment. This includes the construction of a big enclosure for the "soft release" method, where the squirrels will stay for several months before returning to the wild.

The housing will be made for long-term use so that it can continue to be used later whenever a baby or injured squirrel is found in the area of Istrian County, which after care and rehabilitation should be released into nature. With this, we expect, the population of squirrels at Pical would grow from year to year.

Valamar Riviera d.d. will finance the construction of the housing.

The implementation of this part of the project will take place in 2025-2026.

This perennial project of reintegrating European red squirrels into their natural environment requires thorough planning, in order to increase the probability of successful population strengthening.

3. Animation of the Opening of the Recovery/Rehab Center for Wild Animals of Istria

We want to encourage veterinarians and authorities to open a wildlife rehab center that will provide shelter and care for injured and sick wild animals, with a focus on red squirrels. The rehabilitation center should be equipped for rehabilitating animals and releasing them back into nature and can serve as an educational center for citizens and visitors. This is an important point of the project because currently, there is not a single recovery center for wild animals in Istria.

For the realization of this point of the project, the town of Poreč helps us in terms of animating local veterinarians and competent services.

Objectives of the Project

The goals of the project are the protection of urban wild animals and the repopulation of European red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), given that the number of these forest mammals is decreasing. Red squirrels, especially those living in urban areas, face threats that lead to a decline in their population. Here are some reasons why red squirrels are endangered and how they can be helped:

Loss of Habitat

Urbanization and construction have resulted in the destruction, reduction, and fragmentation of natural red squirrel habitats, including forests and forest edges. This reduces the availability of food, shelter, and breeding opportunities.

Competition with Gray Squirrels

The population of red squirrels faces the threat of the invasive gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), which is native to North America and was imported to Europe at the end of the last century and has multiplied in the territories of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. Gray squirrels are often better adapted to urban environments and can compete with red squirrels for resources such as food and habitat, and carry a virus that is deadly to red squirrels. The reproduction and spread of this species represent a direct threat to all red squirrels in Europe.

Traffic Accidents

Squirrels, like hedgehogs, are often victims of traffic on town streets, especially when crossing the road in search of food or a mate.

Diseases

Red squirrels can be susceptible to various diseases that can spread among the population, as well as diseases acquired through infection through stagnant water, which further reduces their numbers.

How to Help Them?

Habitat Conservation

Protection and restoration of natural habitats, including urban greenery infrastructure, play a key role in the conservation of red squirrels. That includes the preservation of existing forests and the creation of new green areas and urban walkways, especially by planting pine, hazelnut, walnut, and fruit trees. There is also the setting up of houses (shelters-nesting boxes), feeders, and waterers.

Reintegration of Red Squirrels

Red squirrel reintegration project in the natural environment, in places where they no longer exist or their numbers have greatly decreased, implies the release of bred or rescued red squirrels into nature, which results in an increase in their number. This process creates a stronger and more resilient population that could better cope with the possible spread of the invasive gray squirrel.

Traffic Measures

Speed limits, posting warning signs, and building underpasses or overpasses for wildlife can reduce the risk of vehicle collisions.

Education and Awareness

Reinforcing the idea of the importance of conserving red squirrels and their habitats can encourage people to actively participate in the protection of these mammals. Placing signs about the mandatory leashing of dogs, as well as the activity of municipal wardens in places where there are urban squirrels, because the dogs without the leash often kill them. It is about stricter compliance with the provisions of already existing regulations and decisions.

The project has another goal - raising the awareness of the citizens of Poreč about the importance of preserving biological diversity and their active participation in the protection of nature and its inhabitants.

Health Monitoring

Monitoring the health of red squirrels can help quickly identify and control disease within the population.

An integrated approach that includes habitat protection, repopulation, traffic measures, health surveillance, and education can significantly contribute to the conservation of red squirrels in urban areas.