Don’t be a stranger for the next seven months
As another game shooting season ends, we are going to say goodbye to our shoot friends and colleagues, but hopefully not for long.
- - Features
- - Features
Squirrel wars
Gavin Howe explains how you can help our native red squirrels and our woodland by volunteering to control the destructive grey invaders.
For many of us, controlling grey squirrels has become an essential part of our woodland management efforts.
A stroll through areas occupied by grey squirrels will reveal the negative impact these non-native species can have on the overall health of our woodland ecosystems. Most obvious is bark stripping, which weakens the structure of trees and leaves them vulnerable to disease, reducing their economic value. But, squirrel predation of nests also leads to depletion of songbird numbers and the damage they cause to feeders and nest boxes has both conservation and financial impacts.
Although the battle to control the grey menace is UK-wide, the front-line in the war against this invasive species is being fought in areas where our iconic and cherished native red squirrel still has a foothold.
Once a common sight across the UK, red squirrels have faced extinction on a national level for a number of years. They have been squeezed out of much of their preferred natural habitat by the greys and, more significantly, have been decimated by the squirrel pox virus. This disease is only carried by grey squirrels but is very easily transmitted to reds, usually with fatal results. One grey carrying the virus can potentially wipe out a whole colony of reds.
Year-round challenges
Preventing greys from moving into areas where red squirrels remain presents enormous year-round challenges. Constant monitoring of red squirrel colonies to ensure they remain healthy and have the appropriate habitat to survive is a priority.
Having both species in the same area also limits the methods available to control greys. Live capture traps and shooting are the only options, which are both time-consuming and costly, so raising public awareness and funds are key.
The use of thermal imaging, trail cameras and new trap designs have all been game-changing in helping to control greys.Â
A squirrel pox vaccine, a contraceptive to slow the reproduction rate of grey squirrel numbers, and the use of AI may all provide useful methods in the future, but require rigorous testing. It’s likely to be some years before they are available, meaning the current methods are our only hope in preserving remaining numbers.
How can you help?
There are many ways in which you can get involved to protect red squirrels:
- Link up with your local squirrel group to find out how you can support them.
- Report sightings of both red squirrels and greys so that efforts can be focused efficiently on specific areas.
- Ask local groups or attend a training course on grey squirrel management to ensure your efforts are effective and align with best practice guidance.
- Grey squirrel control – in areas where management activity is limited, you could gain additional permission to carry out control.
- In areas where both reds and greys may be present, the feeders must be regularly disinfected to avoid spreading the squirrel pox virus.
Grey squirrel management doesn’t have to cost lots of money. Squirrel groups can sometimes supply traps, feeders and feed. If shooting is your preferred method, an airgun, feeder and basic hide is all you need.
Additional information supplied by Jerry Moss, an employed squirrel ranger operating in the North of England and a trustee of Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group.
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Gavin Howe
Gavin is a BASC regional officer in the North of England. Having been a head keeper for 13 years he has a particular interest in conservation and introducing young people to fieldsports.
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