Red Squirrel Group Sees 'Invasion' of Grays
Red squirrels in England are facing an "invasion" of their gray counterparts, a conservation group has warned.
The Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) said the number of gray squirrels in England had increased by 20% in the past five years, while the number of red squirrels had declined by 15%.
The RSST said the gray squirrels were outcompeting the reds for food and habitat, and were also carrying a deadly disease that could wipe out the red squirrel population in England.
The RSST is calling on the government to take action to protect red squirrels, including culling gray squirrels and planting more trees to provide them with food and habitat.
The gray squirrel was introduced to England from North America in the 1870s. They are larger and more aggressive than red squirrels, and they are also more adaptable to a wider range of habitats.
The gray squirrel has spread rapidly across England in recent years, and it is now found in all but a few isolated pockets of the country.
The RSST said the gray squirrel was a "major threat" to the red squirrel, and that it could lead to the extinction of the red squirrel in England.
The RSST is urging the government to take action to protect red squirrels, including:
- Culling gray squirrels
- Planting more trees to provide food and habitat for red squirrels
- Raising awareness of the threat posed by gray squirrels
The RSST said that if the government did not take action, the red squirrel could be extinct in England within a few decades.
