Red squirrels are thriving in woodland around Loch Lomond, according to results from a national survey.

Admired for their bushy tails and cute appearance, the squirrels are being seen more often in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

This has been confirmed by survey results from 2017 which show their population levels are being maintained.

Mary-Anne Collis, red squirrel conservation officer for Argyll, the Trossachs and Stirling, said: "In the Central Lowlands, red squirrels are holding their ground and as a result we’ve started to see them in areas where they haven’t been seen for a long time.

"This is particularly noticeable to the south and east of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which is now predominantly a red-only zone."

Since 2011, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has been monitoring squirrel populations in the parts of the country where red squirrels are most under threat from the spread of non-native grey squirrels.

Grey squirrels, which were introduced to Britain from North America in the 19th century, out-compete red squirrels for resources, and can also carry squirrelpox, a virus that doesn't harm them but is deadly to reds.

The 2017 survey results show that red squirrel populations have remained stable in the past year, a sign that with continued effort from conservationists and volunteers, their decline can be halted.

Mary-Anne added: "If it wasn’t for our fantastic volunteers who brave the unpredictable spring weather to help us with these surveys then we wouldn’t be able to see the positive impact that our conservation work is having."

Squirrel populations are surveyed using feeder boxes placed in the same areas of woodland each spring. When a squirrel visits a feeder box, a sticky tab collects some of its hair, which can then be identified under a microscope.

The project is currently recruiting volunteers to participate in the 2018 squirrel survey, which takes place between March and April.

More information is available from the Scottish Wildlife Trust at scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk