Refuge offers red squirrels hope

BBC News ^ | Tuesday, 3 February, 2004 | Refuge offers red squirrels hope

[presidio9]

The UK's dwindling population of red squirrels has been thrown a lifeline with the opening of a forest refuge. The inexorable advance of the grey squirrel has left the reds isolated in just a few parts of the country.

Whinfell Forest in Cumbria contains conifer trees disliked by greys and has been declared a haven for its red occupants, of which there are currently about 150.

A chain of similar refuges is planned across the north-west, one of the reds' last remaining strongholds in Britain.

The botanist David Bellamy, who is launching the haven, told BBC Radio Five Live that the large area of coniferous forest gave the animal a good chance to expand in numbers.

"If there's the right mixture with lots of conifers rather than too many bald leaf trees, then the red seems to win out over the grey," he said.

"This area is about 650 football pitches and there're 150 red squirrels there.

"Now working to give them a better chance is our best way of helping towards survival in the future."

Whinfell is the site of a holiday village owned by Center Parcs, which has set up the project with the forest's owners, the Lowther Estates, and Red Alert North West.

The Alert is a partnership of conservation groups, businesses and members of the public working to save the red squirrel.

The species has declined rapidly over the last century because of competition and disease brought by the grey squirrel, introduced from North America.

Although the reds were once widespread, in England large numbers are now found only in Cumbria, Merseyside, Northumberland, Suffolk and the Isle of Wight.

There are only 30,000 in England, compared with two million grey squirrels.

Whinfell is the second in the chain of 18 refuges planned for the region.

Robert Benson of Lowther Estates said: "We have a thriving population of red squirrels here at Whinfell and we want to do as much as we can to keep it that way.

"A big forest like this can make a real difference towards protecting red squirrels so we wanted to help by growing the right sorts of trees."

[presidio9]

[mewzilla]

Awwwwwww. I love squirrels :)

[mewzilla]

And if the Beeb would stick to doing animal interest stories, I'd be very grateful.

[mtbopfuyn]

Martha and Hillary should invest in squirrel viagra.

[blackdog]

It took me two years to rid my house of red squirrels, or "pine squirrels" as they are also called. The little buggers get inside the walls and chew wires, beams, and siding. They would feed in the pines all day and then leap to the roof at sunset, and move their antics indoors.

I used a hava a heart trap baited with peanut butter, releasing my captives a few miles away in a pine grove. The stubborn ones who would not go in the trap had to be shot.

[FreedomFarmer]

Red squirrels Lat.(Limbus chickenus; treeus ratus) be mighty fine stew out this way.

[dennisw]

They can go as nutzzz as they want there!!

[presidio9]

They can go as nutzzz as they want there!!

[laker_dad]

It took me two years to rid my house of red squirrels, or "pine squirrels" as they are also called.

We used to have a bunch in our woods. Noisy beasts in the morning! One winter a couple of owls moved in and cleaned them all out! When they ran out of targets the owls moved on...

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Calvin Locke]

I used to try to keep down the gray squirrel population at one time. (Started out with a single, garden destroying woodchuck...).

Anyway, one of the neighbors was berating me at the block party. Next thing I know, she's asking me about getting rid
of the critters since they infested her home. She goes out an buys a box (5lbs?) of industrial strength bait and poison.

(I was using the havahart myself. Peanut butter on apples for the reds. Peanut butter also attracts the grays, cats,
skunks, and opossums. Broccoli for woodchucks.)

[mewzilla]

For anyone who may have missed it, the Squirrel Grenade thread :)

[Renfield]

I guess they don't hunt squirrels there. I'd fancy a squirrel shooting holiday in Britain (probably a lot cheaper than driven grouse), but it's probably just a pipe dream.

[CSM]

Red squirrels are a nuissance and they are a natural enemy to the Fox or Grey squirrells. What these enviro-idiots don't discuss is that for the red squirrel to thrive they will drive the grey squirrell out of the area. Then these same jokers will complain about the grey squirrell population. Given the choice, I would rather see the grey and fox squirrel thrive and the red go extinct!

Squirrel is some good eats! I wish Emeril would do a special and kick 'em up a knotch!

[presidio9]

Most of the squirrels where I live are black. It used to be 50/50 grey/black, but since the red-tailed hawk populatioin has recovered in the last 15 years the blacks have taken over. They are harder to spot from the air I guess.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[jpl]

We have a lot of black ones here in the D.C. area.

[presidio9]

The nice thing about squirrels is that they are known to show signs of racial harmony every now and then...

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[skinkinthegrass]

I read that, a few week ago. REAL Funny. :))