Red squirrels have expanded their range across the Highlands by more than a quarter after a 10-year reintroduction programme moved hundreds to new homes. The species once came close to extinction in Britain when foresters killed them as pests and their natural habitat was destroyed. A deadly virus carried by invasive grey squirrels has hampered their recovery.
It's nice to see some good news. And a native species recovering from an influx of disease-ridden invaders gradually enchoaching on their last strogholscertainly fits that bill. Even if the 'Guardian' would go into a fit of the vapours if the same scheme was proposed for white English people.
Scotland is the red’s heartland, home to 80% of the UK’s population of about 200,000. The reintroduction project, run by the rewilding charity Trees for Life, has established more than a dozen thriving new sites, from Ullapool to Morvern to Lairg.
I've still never seen one in the wild. Perhaps this gives me a better chance in future.
Dont forger the beneficial role of predators.
ReplyDeletePine Martens are also spreading back due to less persecution, the Martens will prreferentially predate the greys as an easier meal, greys being bigger/heavier and spending more time on the ground.
Every cloud, and all that. I've never seen a pine marten in the wild either!
DeleteRumour has it that some red squirrels had placards saying "grey squirrels welcome" when they first arrived
ReplyDeleteJaded
LOL!
DeleteI had the good fortune to grow up in an area where, thanks to geographical isolation, the red squirrel has continued to thrive (like ‘The Lost World’ only smaller and rather less threatening).
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, according to the internet, ‘ [Grey] Squirrel meat is lean, high in protein, and low in fat and cholesterol compared to domestic meats like chicken or pork.’
There’s the answer, then…
I've actually eaten squirrel, It's nice, very much like rabbit, albeit tougher.
DeleteMy dog loved Grey Squirrels. They were delicious apparently.
ReplyDeleteDoing his bit for the environment.
DeleteA few years ago I ran the North Lincs Half Marathon. The route passed through a wooded area and there was a flattened grey squirrel on the road. It really looked like one that had been run over in a cartoon. I quipped "Looks like the squirrel got a DNF*" Nobody laughed so I guess those runners don't go much for dark humour.
ReplyDelete*DNF = Did not finish.
Stonyground.
🤣
Delete