Drivers urged to take extra care of red squirrels

The JSPCA said it had rescued 35 red squirrels across the year so far

An animal charity in Jersey has warned motorists to drive "extra carefully" as squirrels are collecting nuts and seeds close to the ground to prepare for winter.

The JSPCA said it had rescued 35 red squirrels so far this year, with some injured in road traffic accidents while others fell from nests.

The charity said drivers should be particularly cautious of squirrels in the mornings when they collect their food "around green lanes and woodland areas".

It said some squirrels had been released back into the wild, while some remain in its care as they continue to build their skills and strength.

Many squirrels have already been released into the wild

Razina Bargit from the JSPCA said it had been "a really busy summer".

"We've had interesting weather, we've had an incredibly hot summer so we find that squirrels and babies, when they get a little bit uncomfortable in the nest, they shuffle around a bit too much and they fall out of the nest," she explained.

"We've had some periods of weather where it's been incredibly windy so we find squirrels fall out of trees and out of their nests."

The charity has advised the public to contact them if they find an injured squirrel or a lost kit.

Ms Bargit said caring for the squirrels is a "really demanding task".

"When they come in the vets will check them over for malnutrition and disease and injuries," she explained.

"If it's a baby, a kit, they'll be weaned - so we're trying to mimic the natural lifestyle.

"Once they've developed the right skills to crack nuts and build nests and climb trees then they go through that soft release which is a really beautiful process and it's really rewarding to see them once they're out there."

To help supplement squirrels' food supply ahead of winter, the charity advised people to leave out nuts and seeds in extra tall feeders in their gardens.

Correction 10 October 2025: A reference to hibernation in this story was removed as squirrels do not hibernate.