THE welcome news of a ground-breaking sighting of a red squirrel at Luss, as reported in the Helensburgh Advertiser of April 11, strikes a chord with other local sightings.

Last spring, several people told me they’d recently seen a red squirrel between Mambeg and Rahane on the Rosneath Peninsula.

The people concerned are known to me as completely reliable but, inwardly, I must admit I harboured a few reservations. After all, I’d never seen a red squirrel myself in Helensburgh and Lomond, south of Arrochar and Tarbet.

At the same time, a number of grey squirrels also sport some darker markings, including a dash of red, so I couldn’t help but wonder...

Amazingly though, within weeks, I happened to spot a red squirrel near Glenmallan jetty. Most helpfully, I had a witness, which helps dispel any notion that my imagination was in overdrive.

READ MORE: Red squirrel spotted in Luss for first time in years

Ironically, it was just a short distance from there the North American grey squirrel was introduced to Scotland in 1892.

I passed on details of the various sightings to Mary-Anne Collis at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and she was able to confirm that they too had received details of a number of reports from the peninsula, including Kilcreggan.

Taken together, it would seem beyond reasonable doubt that something of a red renaissance is indeed under way, and it must surely be worth keeping an eye out for further proof.

The 1892 introduction was conducted by Colonel and Mrs Marryat, who lived at Finnart House, a mansion now within the precincts of Finnart Ocean Terminal. Known as animal lovers, it can surely never have crossed their minds that an action such as theirs would spell doom for native reds.

One of the places in the front line of the present campaign to control greys is the isthmus between Arrochar and Tarbet. The basic strategy is to prevent greys from spreading north and west of that locality.

Can it be that the campaign is having a knock-on effect to the benefit of reds south of that line? But could it also be that other factors may be playing a part? Enter a possible unsung hero in the shape of the pine marten, a feisty member of the weasel family, which, while it can take reds, it prefers greys as easier to catch.

READ MORE: Listen out for April's avian songsters

Is there any evidence of a decline in grey squirrels? I recently put this question to a Rosneath resident who spends a lot of time outdoors, and although anecdotal, he reckoned there had indeed been a distinct reduction locally.

From personal experience, I would also support that view. It would be interesting to know if you have noticed any changes.

It is worth acknowledging that control of wildlife is always controversial – after all, no-one asked the grey squirrel if it wanted to be brought to this country – but the stark reality is that if greys are not controlled, the reds are probably bound for ultimate oblivion.

The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels campaign would be delighted to receive details of any sightings you make. You can report sightings online at scottishsquirrels.org.uk, where you can also access information about results in more detail.