Whinfell Forest is one of sixteen official red squirrel refuges in the UK, making it a very important protected area for the species.
Red squirrels are endangered in Britain, mainly because they struggle to compete with the bigger more aggressive grey squirrels, who arrived from north America in the late 19th century.
The rangers were able to track the red squirrels by using thermal-scanning devices, GPS software, and remote cameras.
Rangers at the site think the increase this year is partly because it is a ‘mast year’ – when trees produce lots more seeds, berries and nuts – providing a feast for wildlife.