The grey squirrel is a familiar creature in our parks and gardens. This fluffy-tailed mammal has been making mischief in the UK for a while now, overwhelming our native reds since being introduced here from North America in the late 19th century. Before the greys arrived, the UK was home to about 3.5 million reds; today, only 120,000–160,000 remain.
Reds have suffered at the paws of greys. Their larger, non-native cousins outcompete them for food and also carry the squirrel pox virus, which is often fatal to reds but not to greys. Scientists have worked to develop a vaccine to protect red squirrels from the disease, but inoculation isn’t much use when it comes to a ransacked larder.
Currently, attempts to control the grey squirrel population involve poisoning or trapping and shooting. But conservationists are exploring more humane ways of keeping their numbers in check. One idea is to use pine martens, which prey on squirrels. Research has shown that woodlands with higher numbers of pine martens host fewer greys and more reds; scientists think that the smaller reds can escape predation by perching on thinner branches that can’t support the weight of greys or martens. However, some conservationists are concerned that increased numbers of pine martens would have an impact on bird populations, too.
A proposal to suppress the grey squirrel population using a contraceptive has also received Government backing, but there are concerns that this approach wouldn’t be species-specific – that food laced with drugs could be consumed by other animals, too.
Clearly, current strategies are largely failing to control numbers of grey squirrels – aliens that cost the UK £40 million a year from damage to broadleaved forest. So eyes are turning to other methods.
Bu hikaye BBC Wildlife dergisinin September 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye BBC Wildlife dergisinin September 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Does cloning create identical copies?
EMBRYOS ARE MADE OF STEM CELLS that divide to give rise to different types of cells, everything from skin to brain cells. Scientists once thought that reproductive cloning creating a genetically identical copy of an individual organism - would be impossible without using stem cells and that the path leading to mature 'differentiated' cells was irreversible. But clawed frogs proved them wrong...
Tool-using animals
Our pick of 10 species that exhibit this special skill
Mission Blue
Sylvia Earle has dedicated her life to marine conservation; she tells BBC Wildlife why protecting the ocean is essential to all life on earth
RESHARK
The world's first shark rewilding initiative has seen zebra sharks released in the waters of Indonesia's Raja Ampat archipelago
ON DECK
Ferries aren't just for transport, they're also perfect vessels for conservation
IT'S A COLOURFUL LIFE
Delve into the unique and complex biology of the clownfish, arguably the world's most famous fish
BAHAMAS BENEATH
A dive into the waters of this famous island nation with the creatures that call it home
"To save the reef, we need everybody involved"
Indigenous peoples may hold the key to protecting the Great Barrier Reef
SPINNING AROUND
Going around in circles proves fruitful for this filter-feeder
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
On balmy evenings, amorous beetles put on a spellbinding show in North American forests