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News: January 2004

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Lancashire gardeners urged to exterminate grey squirrels

Appeared on Space For Nature on 3rd January 2004
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Residents in the area of Formby red squirrel reserve on the Lancashire coast are being urged to trap grey squirrels so that they can be killed in order to protect the native population of reds.
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 Details  
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust, in conjunction with Red Alert (an organisation supported by David Belamy), are lending humane traps to residents in the area of the reserve. Open quotesWhen grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinesis) are caught in these traps, trained Red Alert volunteers administer a lethal injection or shoot the animalClose quotesWhen grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinesis) are caught in these traps, trained Red Alert volunteers administer a lethal injection or shoot the animal.

These drastic measures are considered necessary to safeguard one of the last remaining of Britain's now scattered red squirrel (Sciurus vlugaris) populations. The red squirrel, our only native squirrel, was widespread in Britain before the introduction of the grey squirrel from North America in the mid 19th century. Grey's do not kill reds, but they may be better competitors for food and territory. Grey squirrels also carry a disease called parapox which although harmless to them, is deadly to red squirrels. Open quotesExperience has shown that when greys start to arrive in an area where red squirrels are resident, the reds are generally gone within seven to 12 yearsClose quotesExperience has shown that when greys start to arrive in an area where red squirrels are resident, the reds are generally gone within seven to 12 years.

Two parapox outbreaks on the reserve last year, which accounted for nine confirmed red squirrel deaths, together with a huge increase in sightings of grey squirrels in the area have prompted the action by the Trust and Red Alert.
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 Source  
Deborah James. 2003. Kill grey squirrels to save the native reds. Viewed on the web at http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/dailypost/page.cfm?objectid=13752014&method=full&siteid=50020 on January 2nd 2004.

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