How another UK native could help give a boost to under-threat red squirrels

TORIES are urging ministers to save our red squirrels by reintroducing pine martens and making their grey cousins infertile.

- Steph Spyro

MPs say England's red squirrels could disappear without "innovative" moves to protect them, such as bringing back carnivorous, predatory pine martens to keep the grey population down.

Conservative Sir Roger Gale said: "Red squirrels have been driven to the brink by their invasive grey cousins. If we do not take bold action today, red squir rels could disappear entirely.

"The Government needs to publish the long overdue update of their squirrel action plan to provide land managers with the clear and decisive support they need to save our red squirrels.

"This needs to include rolling out innovative approaches like grey squirrel contraceptives and pine marten reintroductions, which will help restore our native squirrel population by controlling grey numbers in a humane way.