Thoughtless thieves snatch life-saving squirrel signs as souvenirs as Wester Ross warning issued by Ullapool Sea Savers

SIGNS created by big-hearted Wester Ross children to help protect at-risk squirrels and otters from road danger have been stolen – apparently as souvenirs.

And now a plea has gone out to the thoughtless thieves whose actions are directly endangering Highland wildlife.

Ullapool Sea Savers, an environmental campaign group largely made up of children in and around the Wester Ross village, was initially started by kids campaigning to get road signs up to flag up to motorists that red squirrels had been reintroduced to the area and were being hit by cars.

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The group managed to convince the Scottish Government to allow and fund two signs locally but then fundraised to get additional signs up on some hot spots where the squirrels and otters were being hit.

Local tradesmen and volunteers helped put these up for free to keep costs as low as possible – but it still cost a significant amount.

The group tonight posted: "Sadly four of our signs have been stolen as souvenirs. Not only can we not afford to replace them but we also don't want to have the kids go through fundraising and doing what we think is the right thing to protect our wildlife only for them to see their hard work being stolen by people who could actually buy souvenirs from local businesses, or even buy signs from the manufacturers that we use if they really want one. (Or even buy two and give us one too as we've still lots more places we need them!)".

It wants people "to share the fact that these signs are not funded by the government or council and if they are stolen it puts our local animals at risk of being run over, and really upsets the kids, who we believe like most people genuinely love our countryside and wildlife". It added: "So please spread can you spread this message?"

It stated: "If you love it up here as much as we do, please don't steal the signs that try to protect our wildlife, and if you see people taking them, please tell them not to."

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