Wildlife Welfare

Wild Red Squirrel Conservation Welfare

How grey squirrel management and habitat protection are supporting red squirrel survival.

Key Facts

Red squirrels have declined from all of England except isolated refugia due to grey squirrel competition and squirrelpox virus
Grey squirrels carry squirrelpox without illness but transmit it fatally to red squirrels
Managed conservation areas with grey squirrel control allow red squirrel populations to persist
Pine marten recovery naturally suppresses grey squirrel populations, benefiting red squirrels

Welfare Considerations

Red squirrel welfare is inseparable from the management of grey squirrel competition and disease. Individual red squirrels affected by squirrelpox die slowly with painful neurological and skin symptoms. Conservation management that reduces this risk provides direct individual welfare benefit alongside population protection.

What You Can Do

Support dedicated red squirrel conservation areas and the grey squirrel management they require
Report squirrelpox in red squirrels to conservation organisations immediately
Donate to red squirrel conservation charities working in northern England and Scotland