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06 March 2008
GROWING PUBLIC DEMAND FOR GREY SQUIRREL CONTROL
A recent survey commissioned by the European Squirrel Initiative (ESI) has again highlighted the growing year-on-year support the general public has for controlling the growing grey squirrel population in Great Britain.
The survey, conducted for ESI by NEMS Market Research, demonstrated increased backing for initiatives that will help reverse the decline of Great Britain’s native red squirrel population. 70.82% of respondents are aware that the grey squirrel is responsible for the decline, to almost extinction, of the native red squirrel. Moreover, 79.64% of people stated their support for control of the alien population of grey squirrels to preserve the native red from extinction and restore the threatened population.
Lastly, the survey also revealed that the current research to develop a contraceptive pill to stop greys from breeding would find favour with the public. The use of a non-lethal method of control to remove all American greys from the UK gained a positive response from 64.35% of those questioned.
The findings come at a time when there is growing consternation over Natural England’s decision to grant licences allowing the release of rehabilitated grey squirrels back into the wild. The government’s environmental organisation is vested with the authority to issue licences via a Part 8 agreement under section 78 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act).
Miles Barne of the ESI comments, “This survey shows there is a real demand from the public to see effective action that reverses the decimation of our native red squirrel population by the invasive grey.”
He continued, “The survey is also timely and puts in stark relief Natural England’s decision to grant licences allowing captured non-native greys back into the wild. As a government agency whose mission statement is to ‘conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscape and wildlife in rural, urban and coastal marine areas’, these releases set a dangerous precedent and cause unnecessary alarm.”
“Natural England’s policy is in a muddle and does nothing to protect our endangered red squirrel population,” he added.
ENDS
