Red squirrels are under intense pressure from grey squirrel competition and squirrelpox virus, and targeted conservation is essential for their welfare in remaining UK strongholds.
Squirrelpox infection causes a highly distressing terminal illness with skin ulcers and lesions before death. Grey squirrel competition forces red squirrels into marginal habitats where food is less available and survival harder. Welfare priorities include grey squirrel control to prevent squirrelpox introduction, vaccination programmes under development, provision of supplementary feeding in harsh winters, and habitat management favouring conifer woodland.