Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue encouraging through knowledge a natural balance

I think squirrels are fantastic. Incredible to watch such wonderful acrobats .
It is conservation that will see the return of the Reds to widespread Britain. And let's not forget it was us who brought the grey's here because we thought the reds were boring!!!!!!
For many years, Red Squirrels were seen as pests and were targeted by gamekeepers. Lady Lovat was instrumental in getting red squirrel's re-introduced to the Highlands back in 1844, but by the early 1900s, their success was becoming a cause for concern among foresters and clubs were set up in Scotland for the pure and simple reason of killing or trapping Red Squirrels. With financial incentives for anyone who sent in Red Squirrel's tails, it wasn't long before a massacre occurred. The Highland Squirrel Club alone killed 80,000 Red Squirrels during the first 30 years it operated! This continued up until the end of the 1920s.

 

Short of habitat to live in and places to find suitable food, while being hunted and trapped, they've found themselves under constant threat of extinction. Facing these problems has left the population weakened, and therefore more susceptible to disease. One such disease is parapox virus, which has similar symptoms to myxomatosis found in rabbits, and has also been a killer to Grey Squirrels in the past, only leaving those of squirrels lucky enough to have an immunity. Some Red Squirrels have also shown signs of this immunity, so the the parapoxvirus is not likely to be the end of the Red Squirrels either.
Squirrel Natural Heritage (SNH) research has shown that Red Squirrels were dying of a disease between 1900 a nd 1920. Descriptions of the disease give very similar clinical signs to the disease that scientists now know to be poxvirus. Most of the Red Squirrels reported to be dying had never had any contact with Grey Squirrels. grey's only spread across 4 out of 40 districts while Red Squirrels were fairly common across the country.
I can watch these acrobats for hours as they balance and play in the trees.
The majority of their diet being tree seeds, fungi, nuts and berries. However, if they're hungry and we stumble upon a birds nest, they won't waste the opportunity. Red Squirrels can be seen eating eggs and fledglings although predominantly vegetarian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss of the Red Squirrel factors
Climate change, and deforestation for agriculture, industry and housing have resulted in loss of habitat suitable for Red Squirrels
Changes in tree species planted in recent years have favored grey's, with significant red squirrel habitat disappearing
Grey Squirrels don't chase Red Squirrels away. It is simply a gradual ecological replacement due to Grey's being more adaptable. Plenty of evidence shows the two species living together for significant periods.
In addition, humans have persecuted Red Squirrels as pests for many years, driving them to near extinction
Red Squirrels, like Grey Squirrels before, have been affected by Parapoxvirus. Grey Squirrels who survived showed immunity, and the same immunity is now being seen in some Red Squirrels
Habitat pressures are making life hard for Red Squirrels, so disease, like SQPV, is harder for them to fight. They are certainly not fat and healthy
Destruction of millions of acres of woodland by humans for agriculture, housing and industrial purposes. As a species, Red Squirrels are far less adaptable than the grey's, and have suffered quite badly when their habitat has been destroyed throughout the centuries.
Humans have continued to eat up Red Squirrel habitat at an alarming rate. 50% of the woodland that was present in the UK in the 1940s has been cut down, leaving ever decreasing places for the Red Squirrels to survive. Recently the preference has been for planting deciduous forests, which don't suit the red squirrel at all, and only help Grey Squirrels. Here in the UK, Red Squirrels find themselves at the very edges of their natural habitat,persecuted for any success they ever had in this country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Squirrels could potentially survive in deciduous forest, even though the food sources available are not as beneficial to them as they are to the grey's. However, given that they thrive in deciduous and mixed forest, it is no surprise that Red Squirrels find themselves unable to compete in this type of forest. The poor diet means they breed slower than, and simply decline in these areas. This ecological replacement happens over significant timescale. Red and Grey Squirrels can live together for many years before the gradual decrease results in the Red Squirrels becoming extinct in the deciduous or mixed woodland. It is only where Red Squirrels can out-compete Grey Squirrels that they do very well.
Research has shown that they require a minimum area of 200 hectares of coniferous woodland before they start to thrive sufficiently to do better than Grey Squirrels. Even in smaller coniferous forests, Reds will do significantly better than in deciduous or mixed forest where food sources are not so suitable for them.
It is important to point out that when Grey Squirrels are accused of chasing Red squirrels, and therefore contributing to the decline in Red Squirrels that there is no evidence at all of this. The fact Red Squirrels survive along with Grey's for significant periods proves this isn't the case. It is purely Grey Squirrels being more successful that drives the numbers of Red Squirrels gradually down in forest types where Grey Squirrels do better than Reds.
Increasing the planting of large coniferous forests is therefore an important factor in helping the Red Squirrel thrive. Grey Squirrels also tend to follow the path of deciduous or mixed woodland, so the large deciduous plantations springing up everywhere are simply acting as corridors to allow them to spread further. A knowledge of the types of trees which Reds prefer and Grey's prefer could allow a tree planting direction which would improve the habitat for the Reds while allowing the Grey's to continue to survive in the many deciduous woodlands around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following shows which trees suit Red and Grey Squirrels, and the change that occurred between 1980 and 1998 across England. It is unsurprising, given the decline in numbers of Red Squirrels, that there has been a large shift away from trees which suit Red Squirrels to trees which Grey Squirrels thrive in.
Across Scotland, there has been a similar shift against the Red Squirrel habitat, with the exception of Mixed/Japanese Larch which showed a 21% increase. However, this is likely more than made up for by the 28% decrease in Norway Spruce and 39% decrease in European Larch, both of which are good for Red Squirrels. It also must be noted that Scotland is vastly smaller than England so percentage changes are magnified compared with England.

 

There is one confirmed case where a Red Squirrel, in captivity, managed to survive Squirrel pox. It was ill for around 6 weeks, but having plentiful food and warmth allowed it to survive, and its immune system fight the virus. If large numbers of Red Squirrels are to fight this disease themselves, they need good habitat, so they aren't short of food or shelter, so emphasis on planting more coniferous forests is important. The development of a vaccine which could be given to live-trapped red squirrels before they are released again could be a way in which humans could also help the reds further.
The red squirrels life span is 3 years much less than the grey at 12 years.
Their body length 18-24cm with a bushy tail: up to 17.5cm long. Males can weigh up to 350 gm though the average is 250gm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are Reddish brown, white/cream underside, long ear tufts, large dark eyes, long hind legs with long claws and double-jointed ankles.The red squirrel currently resides in most of mainland Scotland, Brownsea Island and the Isle of Wight.
They live in Native forests and plantations. They sleep in drey nests which consists of an outer frame of twigs with dry leaves, soft hair and grass inside.
The reds eat tree seeds, hazelnuts , beech nuts, Scots pine seeds, buds, shoots, lichens, fungi, insects, berries and bird eggs. Squirrels are diurnal which means they are active during the day. They are very active during autumn. They do not hibernate.
Mating begins in January. Gestation lasts around 38 days. The litter consists of 3-5 kittens. The kittens grow body hair after 3 weeks and their eyes open after 30 days. Weaned at 9 weeks. Independent at 3-4 months when they have their adult coat of hair..
On the World Conservation Union’s 2003 Red List of Threatened Species. They are not endangered but are of conservation concern. It is a protected species on the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
Squirrels are diurnal which means they are active during the day. They are very active during autumn. They do not hibernate