Red Squirrel Welfare and Conservation

Red squirrels have been displaced from most of Britain by grey squirrels carrying squirrelpox, with conservation welfare now focused on stronghold protection and grey squirrel management.

Key Facts

Red squirrels now survive in Britain only in northern England, Wales, and Scotland plus some islands
Grey squirrels carry squirrelpox virus that is lethal to red squirrels but causes only mild illness in greys
Grey squirrel control in red squirrel conservation areas directly protects red squirrel populations
Red squirrels are vulnerable to cold wet weather and require high-quality conifer habitat with abundant pine cones

Welfare Considerations

Red squirrel welfare conservation involves both direct welfare of individual red squirrels — threatened by squirrelpox transmission and habitat competition — and the welfare implications of grey squirrel management. Squirrelpox causes prolonged suffering in infected red squirrels including lesions, respiratory distress, and eventual death. Grey squirrel management through trapping is conducted with welfare considerations but remains a source of concern from animal welfare perspectives. The net welfare calculation in conservation areas — protecting red squirrel welfare through grey squirrel control — is generally supported by welfare scientists given the population consequences of inaction.

What You Can Do

Support red squirrel conservation organisations through donations and volunteering
Report red squirrel sightings to wildlife recording organisations to contribute to population mapping
Engage constructively with the grey squirrel management debate in red squirrel conservation areas
Create suitable habitat in northern gardens including conifer trees that support red squirrel foraging