SQUIRREL POX VIRUS CROSSES THE BORDER
The deadly squirrel pox virus has been taken into Scotland by grey
squirrels migrating north from Cumbria.
The disease is an additional threat to native red squirrels, already in
serious decline in the UK, warns the European Squirrel Initiative.
This decrease in red squirrel numbers is linked to the American
grey squirrel which competes with the red squirrel for resources and
carries a virus lethal to the red squirrel. The virus was first
confirmed in East Anglia in the 1980s and has worked its way steadily
northwards.
Scotland, a red squirrel stronghold, had remained free from the squirrel
pox virus until last week. While it can take up to three years for
the red squirrels to fall prey to squirrel pox virus, the "ethnic
cleansing" of the native red squirrel by the introduced
American grey is 17 to- 20 times faster where grey squirrels have
antibodies to the squirrel pox virus.
Pox in red squirrels causes skin ulcers, lesions and scabs with swelling
and discharge around the eyes, mouth, feet and genitalia. The squirrels
become increasingly lethargic as the virus progresses and usually die
within 15 days.
The discovery has been made by the Moredun Institute which detected
antibodies to the squirrel pox virus in blood samples from grey
squirrels trapped three miles south of Kershopefoot in the Scottish
Borders.
The Red Squirrels in South Scotland project has been monitoring the area
and co-ordinating grey squirrel control and pox virus sampling since the
appearance of grey squirrels at the start of 2005. This is the first
convincing evidence of squirrel pox virus in southern Scotland and has
implications for not only the Scottish red squirrel populations, but
those in the nearby red squirrel reserve of Kielder.
Corrie Bruemmer, Species Conservation officer for English Nature -
Cumbria team said: "We are very concerned about the spread of
squirrel pox virus into Scotland. This has a huge potential impact on
the future of the Scottish red squirrels. Measures to prevent the
further flow of the virus into Scotland should be put in place
immediately."
"We are urgently seeking grey squirrel sightings in the north
Cumbria/southern Scotland region to get a better picture of the way grey
squirrels are moving northwards," says chief executive of the
European Squirrel Initiative Roger Cook. "We are also keen to hear
of any sick red squirrels that have been sighted as this may indicate an
outbreak of the disease.
"Anyone who comes across a dead red squirrel (other than obvious
road-kill) or grey squirrel should contact the Red Squirrel Conservation
Officer for their region". It is vital that targeted control
is performed in the area to prevent further spread of diseased grey
squirrels into Scotland and minimise the likelihood of an outbreak of
the disease in Scottish red squirrels.
"Squirrels and/or bird feeders encourage squirrels to feed in close
contact with each other and may act as a transmission site. In the event
of a pox virus outbreak it will be necessary to temporarily remove any
feeders and we urge the public to co-operate by monitoring squirrel
activity in their gardens close to woodland in the Borders."
RED SQUIRRELS SET FOR BUMPER BREEDING YEAR
ON ANGLESEY
Native red squirrels reintroduced to Newborough pine forest on Anglesey
are set for a bumper breeding year in 2005, says the European Squirrel
Initiative.
The first red squirrels were taken back to Newborough forest in 2003 and
last year, produced 23 young. This spring, seven litters have already
been produced, and with many adult females breeding twice, the outlook
for 2005 is extremely good.
It means that visitors to this isolated coastal forest have already been
lucky enough to see a wild red squirrel in what was, until only a few
years ago, a habitat over-run by grey squirrels.
As part of the pioneering conservation project, more than 500 grey
squirrels were removed from the forest to create a safe refuge for the
red squirrels. British Zoos and private breeders donated red squirrels
to the release project which was co-ordinated by the Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Squirrel nest boxes were provided within the forest and the reds'
behaviour has been monitored via radio-collars.
The plight of the endangered native red squirrel has been highlighted by
the European Squirrel Initiative, which represents landowners,
conservationists and foresters seeking to protect the natural
environment by removing the impact of the alien grey squirrel and
restoring the native red squirrel to its traditional habitat.
Dr Craig Shuttleworth of the community group Friends of the Anglesey Red
Squirrels said: "We are delighted to see the red squirrels
returning to their old haunts. This is a terrific achievement when
nationally the red squirrel is still in decline."
"The creation of island refuges is a vital step in the national
campaign to preserve the red squirrel and the merits of establishing
further island colonies should be examined," he added.
BOOK PROMPTS RED SQUIRREL CONSERVATION
CAMPAIGN
Research shows that if current practices continue, the red squirrel will
be extinct on mainland
Britain
and
Ireland
within 20 years.
So it is timely that Charles Dutton, who has studied squirrels in their
woodland habitat for about 30 years, has written a book, which should
compel conservationists to spring to the defence of this delightful but
vulnerable animal and lobby government to protect it.
"If Britain is serious about the conservation of its native fauna,
its obligations under both European and world biodiversity agreements
and the sustainable management of its woodlands and forests; redressing
the wrong suffered by this endearing mammal for so long should be a the
top of the conservation goals," writes Dutton.
The Red Squirrel - Redressing the Wrong sets out how and where we can
make a start on this journey. Commissioned by the European Squirrel
Initiative as a companion volume to The Grey Squirrel Review and
lavishly illustrated with remarkable photographs of the red squirrel in
its natural habitat, it gives an up-to-date summary of the various
populations of red squirrels within the two islands and the various
conservation projects currently in operation.
Dutton distils many hundreds of professional research papers in
producing this book as well as drawing on a life times knowledge and
experience in natural history, conservation and forestry.
A number of major threats are discussed, not least that posed by the
grey squirrel on the reds' habitat and the killer disease parapoxvirus.
Other threats not quite as obvious but just as important include the
contradiction between European and British legal protection.
The book contains a comprehensive history and guide to the captive
breeding of red squirrels, drawing on information from
Britain
and
Europe
, and highlights best practice. It identifies a number of sites in
Britain and Ireland which could become strategic reserves for the red
squirrel until such time as the mainland, or parts of the mainland, can
be free of the disease-carrying grey squirrel and examines how
competition for food can lead to a "catastrophic social
collapse" of the red squirrels' home range.
To encourage repopulation of Britain by this native species, Dutton
calls for funding for research into an affective method of control of
grey squirrels and the establishment of strategic reserves for red
squirrels, both to conserve numbers and to develop a wide enough genetic
base from which to re-colonise the mainland.
"It is imperative that the British Government acts now to prevent
our native red squirrel disappearing from these islands for ever,"
says European Squirrel Initiative Chairman, Miles Barne. "Charles
Dutton is a powerful advocate for the preservation of the species and we
hope that this book will encourage many others to take up the
cause."
The Red Squirrel - Redressing the Wrong by Charles Dutton, is published
by the European Squirrel Initiative, price £20.
Issued on behalf of the ESI by
Kendalls
. For more information, please contact Andrew Kendall, telephone 01394
610022.
NOTES
The European Squirrel Initiative was founded in June 2002 by a group of
concerned landowners, conservationists and foresters under the umbrella
of Woodland Heritage. The organisation seeks the restoration of the
native Red Squirrel and the protection of the natural environment by
removing the impact of the alien Grey Squirrel in
Europe
.
Its role is to
" Persuade conservation bodies and governments of the absolute
necessity of ridding
Europe
of the Grey Squirrel.
" Continue to commission research into the impact of the Grey
Squirrel on local ecosystems.
About the author
Charles Dutton has been associated with red squirrels for most of his
life since having a pet one in
Ireland
in his childhood over 40 years ago.
Latterly, during the last 20 years, he has worked and researched the
grey squirrel but has never lost his fascination with the native red.
The booked involves research from throughout
Europe
and
Scandinavia
, delving into fur trapping records in both
Russia
and
north America
. Research in
South Africa
highlighted a previously undocumented arena of the grey squirrel and its
impact on the environment demonstrating just how adaptable the alien
grey can be.
Charles Dutton lives in
Dorset
and is involved in woodland management.
(12/11/04)
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