05 May 2007

Squirrelpox in Scotland - A devastating setback

The news that the deadly squirrelpox virus has been confirmed in a red squirrel near Lockerbie has been described as a “devastating setback” by the European Squirrel Initiative.  The disease, which is lethal to red squirrels, is carried by grey squirrels.  The report from Scottish Natural Heritage of a red squirrel with squirrelpox virus confirms the first red squirrel fatality from the disease in Scotland. 

“This is terrible news and represents dangerous threat to the Scottish red squirrel population,” said Miles Barne chairman of the European Squirrel Initiative. 

“The spread of squirrelpox from England to Scotland was inevitable given the limited resources committed to controlling grey squirrels, carriers of the disease, crossing the border,” he added. 

The effect of squirrelpox virus is to speed up the displacement of the native red squirrel by a factor of 20.  Grey squirrels are immune from the disease yet carry and spread it amongst the red population. 

“Additional resources are needed in terms of manpower on the ground to destroy “infected” grey squirrels from England,” said Miles Barne.  “The Scottish Red Squirrel Action Plan must be implemented with extra help given to the two squirrel control officers currently employed.  This is a big task and needs instant and effective action” he added. 

The European Squirrel Initiative is a charity dedicated to the preservation of the native red squirrel through the control of the invasive American grey squirrel.

ENDS