UK Wildlife

Red Squirrel Conservation and Grey Squirrel Management

Red squirrel conservation in the UK requires grey squirrel management, as grey squirrels out-compete reds and carry squirrelpox virus fatal to red squirrels, creating a complex welfare and conservation challenge.

Key Facts

Red squirrel population around 140,000 mainly in Scotland, with smaller populations in England and Wales
Grey squirrel population around 2.7 million, introduced from North America in 1870s
Squirrelpox virus carried harmlessly by grey squirrels kills red squirrels in around 15 days
Red squirrel conservation zones involve active grey squirrel control
Contraceptive bait systems for grey squirrels are being developed as a more humane alternative

Welfare Considerations

Red squirrel conservation creates genuine welfare dilemmas around grey squirrel control. Lethal control causes suffering to individual grey squirrels, though it benefits the red squirrel population. Development of immunocontraception for grey squirrels offers a potential pathway to reduce this conflict.

What You Can Do

Support Red Squirrel Survival Trust and local conservation projects
Advocate for research funding for humane grey squirrel contraceptive alternatives
Report red squirrel sightings to contribute to monitoring and conservation planning