Red Squirrel Conservation
Red Squirrel Populations in the UK
Although not threatened worldwide, numbers of red squirrels have drastically reduced in the United Kingdom. Of less than 140,000 individuals thought to be left, approximately 85% are in Scotland. This population decrease is likely to be due to the introduction of the eastern grey squirrel from North America as well as the loss and fragmentation of its native woodland habitat.
In order to conserve remaining numbers of red squirrels, the UK Government in January 2006 announced a mass culling program for grey squirrels. This was welcomed by many conservation groups. The UK has established a local program known as the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership, an element of the national Biodiversity Action Plan. This program is administered by the Grampian Squirrel Society, with an aim of protecting the Red squirrel; the program centres on the Banchory and Cults areas.
The eastern grey squirrel population appears to be able to out-compete the red squirrel for various reasons:
- The eastern grey squirrel can easily digest acorns, while the red squirrel cannot.
- The eastern grey squirrel carries a disease, the squirrelpox, that does not appear to affect their health, though will kill most red squirrels.
- When red squirrels are put under pressure, they will not breed as often.
Eastern grey squirrels do not usually attack red squirrels so direct violent conflict between these species is not a factor in the decline in red squirrel populations.
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