A European Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, in a nature reserve in southern Scotland.
Red Squirrels are native to much of Eurasia, including the United Kingdom, where they number c140,000. They were formerly widespread across much of the UK, but over the last century they have a much restricted distribution, partly because of habitat destruction, and vastly reduced numbers, mainly because of competition and disease from the Grey Squirrels introduced into Britian from North America.
Grey Squirrels are a danger to our native Red Squirrels on two fronts. Firstly, they are larger so can out-compete Reds for food. In addition, they can digest seeds which have a high tannin content (e.g. acorns) more efficiently.
Secondly and even more serious, the introduced Grey Squirrels are asymptomatic carriers of a disease called squirrelpox, which causes scabs and sores in tender parts of Red Squirrels, resulting in them being unable to see or feed, therefore becoming dehydrated and dying.
The Wildlife Trusts are trying to protect British Red Squirrels – which are now limited to small pockets of Wales, parts of Northern England, and Southern and Northern Scotland – by trying to carry out controlled and local Grey Squirrels in areas where both species exist side by side – while waiting for a vaccine in development to become affordable and widely available.
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