Hope has been re-ignited for red squirrel conservationists near Ormside after the sighting of Phoenix - a sole survivor of a colony devastated by squirrel pox.

In February of this year, squirrel pox ripped through a carefully managed population at Rutter Falls Holiday Cottages located near Appleby.

The deadly outbreak was the third in around 10 years.

READ MORE: Two red squirrels dead after squirrel pox outbreak near Appleby

Visible symptoms of squirrel pox virus include wet, discharging lesions or scabs around the eyes, mouth, feet and genitalia.

Squirrels generally become increasingly lethargic as the disease progresses before it becomes fatal. 

The Lake District in particular is known for its massive effort in red squirrel conservation, with a new initiative just launched in Furness, to help protect the species from the non-native grey which is immune.

It's a continuous effort and in just a matter of weeks, the virus wiped out all of the red squirrels in Ambleside apart from Phoenix.

The Westmorland Gazette: A squirrel with the first signs of squirrel pox spotted at Rutter Falls the first sShe avoided contracting the pox by sheer luck and was pictured not long afterwards with a rather large belly denoting that she may have been pregnant. 

Jim Wilson, who is very active in red squirrel conservation and is a volunteer squirrel ranger and supporter of the Penrith and District squirrel group, said: "Phoenix was named so because she survived the fire of the pox.

"She was sighted by a local woman called Helen Cornish afterwards and seemed to have a rather large belly.

"We can't confirm for sure but we thought she may have been pregnant but she hadn't been spotted in a while so our hopes for the reds dwindled."

Helen managed to photograph a red squirrel yesterday (May 12) that she thinks may be Phoenix with a rather normal belly indicating that she may have given birth. 

Jim added: "We would really like this to be Phoenix and the hope is that she’ll bring her kittens to the feeders about Rutter Falls.

"The efforts of Penrith and District squirrel group and Gary the ranger are greatly appreciated however the efforts to control greys in the area is enormous and they have such a big area to cover. 

"There have been greys sighted in the woodlands nearby and the last one was seen in our Watermill Garden which I think is the same one I managed trap as recently as this morning.

The Westmorland Gazette: The grey squirrel that was recently spotted at the watermill garden"We could really do with some help in the fight against the greys and Phoenix really is a message of hope but we need extra hands to seek out and control the nearby greys."

A donation page has also been set up on the Penrith and District squirrel group website and the charity even accepts old, foreign or obsolete notes to convert into useable currency.