Red squirrels were once the only species of squirrel in Europe. This changed with the introduction of the grey squirrel to the UK from America in the late 1800s.
Spending most of their time in the tree tops, red squirrels make use of several dreys inside their range. They don't hibernate, but remain in the drey for several days at a time during bad weather.
The most recent estimates of red squirrel population size were compiled by Harris et al. (1995). They produced an estimate of 161,000 red squirrels in Great Britain, with approximately 30,000 in England, 10,000 in Wales (although recent estimates are significantly lower), and a main population of 121,000 in Scotland, representing 70-75% of the GB population.
Squirrelpox virus is deadly to red squirrels. Evidence suggests that it originated from grey squirrels transported from North America and, whilst they appear to carry a natural immunity to it, red squirrels do not. Animals infected with the virus seem to suffer a marked decline in their health and die within around two weeks of contracting it . At present, the spread of squirrelpox virus presents the greatest threat to retaining red squirrels across their current range. Between 2002 and Spring 2009 the Red Squirrel population of the Sefton Coast deciomed dramatically as a result of squirrelpox. The population at Ainsadale Nature Reserve was wiped out and those at Formby were reduced by 85%.
That is such a sad set of statistics...
It's sad to think that the red squirrel has to struggle so hard to survive. And since the grey squirrels are larger and more aggressive by nature, they also get the lion's share of any food around. I do hope the red squirrel won't become extinct. It's such a lovely and unique little animal.
ReplyDeleteCanadian Chickadee
It's sad to think that the red squirrel has to struggle so hard to survive. And since the grey squirrels are larger and more aggressive by nature, they also get the lion's share of any food around. I do hope the red squirrel won't become extinct. It's such a lovely and unique little animal.
ReplyDeleteCanadian Chickadee
Red Squirrels are one of my favourite animals and it would be a tragedy if they were to be wiped out. So sad to hear the figures for Ainsdale and Formby. Whilst it's a long time since I was there it is one of the great attractions of the area for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm betting on the red squirrels. From your pictures they are either eating or praying alot. Two good activities in survival.
ReplyDeleteAdorable animals! We have brown squirrels mostly, and the occasional black. I've never seen the red ones before. They're lovely.
ReplyDeleteHi there. Great post, I sure hope your Red squirrels recover. I live in Toronto, Canada, and earlier this year, my wife, Jean, and I were in Ireland where we came upon two Red Squirrels. To us, they actually look somewhat like our American Red squirrels, but boy, do they have long ears! We were shocked to learn that U.K. and Irish Red squirrels are contracting the pox virus from Grey squirrels, and dying. We feel very lucky to have seen two Red squirrels in Ireland, and have posted some of our pictures and videos for anyone interested at: http://frametoframe.ca/photo-essay-red-grey-squirrels-canada-ireland
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