Wildlife

Wild Red Squirrel Conservation Welfare

Red squirrels face extinction in most of England and Wales due to grey squirrel competition and squirrelpox disease.

Key Facts

Red squirrels persist in only a few strongholds in England, Scotland, and Wales
Grey squirrels carry squirrelpox virus, which is lethal to red squirrels
Squirrelpox causes facial swelling, ulceration, and death within weeks of infection
Supplementary feeding programs support red squirrel populations through winter
Contraceptive baiting of grey squirrels is being trialed as a humane management approach

Welfare Considerations

Red squirrels dying from squirrelpox experience painful lesions and systemic illness before death. Conservation efforts must balance individual animal suffering against population-level interventions.

What You Can Do

Support wildlife trusts running red squirrel conservation programs
Avoid feeding red and grey squirrels in the same locations to reduce disease spread
Donate to research into squirrelpox vaccines and grey squirrel management