Dogsey

He might be the most unusual recruit to the fight to preserve the native red squirrels of southern Scotland.

Rory the cocker spaniel has developed a skill which is helping in the struggle on the conservation frontline.

For he helps gamekeeper Richard Thomson identify whether a grey or red has been caught in a trap before they can even see it.

The gamekeeper then knows whether he needs to prepare to release the creature or destroy it humanely.

The battle to boost the red squirrel population has been going on for some time across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders as well as some areas further north.

One key part of the effort is to trap and kill grey squirrels which can act as carriers of a deadly virus.

Squirrel pox has no apparent effect on them but is fatal to their red cousins

The traps can't tell the difference between a grey and a red - but the spaniel can.

When a grey has been caught he will bark furiously but is completely silent when a red has been captured.