The red squirrel survives in only a few refugia in northern England and Scotland after being displaced by the introduced grey squirrel. Conservation efforts involve both habitat management and squirrelpox control.
Red squirrels dying from squirrelpox experience respiratory distress, skin lesions and progressive neurological decline — a prolonged and painful death. Individuals in refugia benefit from health monitoring and vaccination research, but no approved squirrelpox vaccine currently exists for field use. Conservation areas where grey squirrels are managed provide the most effective welfare and conservation protection for remaining red squirrel populations.