UK's Red Squirrel Population on Brink of Collapse: Can It Be Saved?
Sam Beaumont is one of the lucky few who get to see red squirrels in his Lake District farm. For him, it's not just a pleasure to spot these beautiful creatures but also an important responsibility to protect them. With their distinctive glossy fur and delicate frames, the UK once boasted 3.4 million red squirrels, but their numbers have drastically declined due to the invasive grey squirrel population.
The non-native grey squirrels, introduced in 1876, have outcompeted the reds for food and carried a deadly disease called squirrelpox, which is fatal to the red population but has no effect on greys. As a result, there are now estimated to be only 287,000 red squirrels left, with around 75% found in Scotland. England's population is thought to be as low as 38,900, including a healthy population on the Isle of Wight.
The government has recently launched an action plan for England, which aims to increase woodland habitat and remove grey squirrels from areas where reds still survive, mostly in the north of England and Scotland. The plan includes measures such as new contraceptive vaccines for greys to stop them breeding and incentivizing landowners to create woodlands.
Beaumont is already taking steps to protect his red squirrels on his farm. He works with a local ranger to monitor their population and eliminate any grey squirrels that are present. Beaumont believes it's essential to preserve habitat for red squirrels, which they love and thrive in the ancient woodland that has been cleared from most of the UK.
However, some campaigners argue that the plan does not go far enough. Marie Carter-Robb, founder of Save Our Reds, says, "This policy statement is a welcome step forward, but it's just words on paper. We need to see tangible action and measurable delivery in the woods."
While there are concerns about the effectiveness of the government's plan, some experts believe that innovative solutions such as fertility control vaccines and pine martens could offer hope for the future. The return of pine martens in areas where grey squirrels dominate has already shown positive results in Ireland and Scotland.
Despite these glimmers of hope, it's clear that time is running out for the UK's red squirrel population. With their numbers dwindling to alarming levels, it's imperative that the government takes swift action to protect these beautiful creatures before it's too late.
Sam Beaumont is one of the lucky few who get to see red squirrels in his Lake District farm. For him, it's not just a pleasure to spot these beautiful creatures but also an important responsibility to protect them. With their distinctive glossy fur and delicate frames, the UK once boasted 3.4 million red squirrels, but their numbers have drastically declined due to the invasive grey squirrel population.
The non-native grey squirrels, introduced in 1876, have outcompeted the reds for food and carried a deadly disease called squirrelpox, which is fatal to the red population but has no effect on greys. As a result, there are now estimated to be only 287,000 red squirrels left, with around 75% found in Scotland. England's population is thought to be as low as 38,900, including a healthy population on the Isle of Wight.
The government has recently launched an action plan for England, which aims to increase woodland habitat and remove grey squirrels from areas where reds still survive, mostly in the north of England and Scotland. The plan includes measures such as new contraceptive vaccines for greys to stop them breeding and incentivizing landowners to create woodlands.
Beaumont is already taking steps to protect his red squirrels on his farm. He works with a local ranger to monitor their population and eliminate any grey squirrels that are present. Beaumont believes it's essential to preserve habitat for red squirrels, which they love and thrive in the ancient woodland that has been cleared from most of the UK.
However, some campaigners argue that the plan does not go far enough. Marie Carter-Robb, founder of Save Our Reds, says, "This policy statement is a welcome step forward, but it's just words on paper. We need to see tangible action and measurable delivery in the woods."
While there are concerns about the effectiveness of the government's plan, some experts believe that innovative solutions such as fertility control vaccines and pine martens could offer hope for the future. The return of pine martens in areas where grey squirrels dominate has already shown positive results in Ireland and Scotland.
Despite these glimmers of hope, it's clear that time is running out for the UK's red squirrel population. With their numbers dwindling to alarming levels, it's imperative that the government takes swift action to protect these beautiful creatures before it's too late.
I'm really worried about those adorable red squirrels! They're so cute and fluffy... I mean, have you seen them in pictures? 
It's crazy to think that there used to be 3.4 million of them in the UK but now they're on the brink of collapse 
. I don't get why people introduced grey squirrels in the first place - did we really need more furry critters taking over our woods? 
We need more than just a plan, we need to see real results in the woods! 
Some of those fancy fertility control vaccines or pine martens might be promising solutions, though... fingers crossed it'll work out for them! 
pine martens would be so cool if they could be reintroduced here tho!! 
at least that's been successful in other areas... sam beaumont is literally the ultimate squirrel hero though 
They're already on the brink of collapse and it's heartbreaking to think they might disappear forever. I mean, what's the point of having a government plan if it just sits on paper? We need to see some serious action being taken ASAP! 
But we can't just sit back and wait for nature to do its thing – we need to take control of this situation! 
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. It's crazy to think that just a few decades ago we had 3.4 million of them and now there are only 287,000 left 
. The fact that grey squirrels have been introduced and outcompeted them for food is just devastating 
. I mean, what's the point of having all these amazing woodland areas if we're not going to protect the creatures that call them home? 
. But seriously, where is the government with this? We need concrete action and measurable results 
. The campaign groups like Save Our Reds are pushing for change, but we can't just rely on them - we need the government to step up and take responsibility 
. Some experts are exploring innovative solutions like fertility control vaccines and pine martens, which could be a game-changer 
. But we need to act fast and get creative if we want to save these beautiful creatures before it's too late 
.
. I mean, 38,900 in England is crazy low! What if we can't even save them? It's not just the greys causing the problem, it's also the lack of habitat and food for them. They love ancient woodlands, but those are getting cleared left and right. We need to do something ASAP or they'll be extinct 
They need our help and we can't just sit back and do nothing about it 
. The plan might not be perfect but at least its a start 
️. We need more woodlands for the red squirrels to live in, like Marie said, its all about tangible action 
... its a long shot but worth trying, right? 
The government should really look at this problem seriously and not just talk about it 
. We need to act fast or those beautiful red squirrels will be gone for good 
It's like they say, "you reap what you sow" and in this case, it seems we've reaped a disaster. But you know what? I'm kinda hopeful about those pine martens 
. If they can help keep grey squirrel numbers under control, maybe, just maybe we'll be able to save some of our beautiful red squirrels.
. We need to take action too! Every small thing we can do to help, like planting trees or supporting conservation efforts, adds up! 
. We need to see some real action on habitat preservation and greying out those invasive grey squirrels ASAP 
. I mean, fertility control vaccines and pine martens are cool ideas, but we can't just sit around waiting for them to work - we need concrete steps now 
I'm so worried about the UK's red squirrels! It's crazy how they went from having 3.4 million in 1876 but now there are only 287,000 left 
, we need tangible action and measurable delivery in the woods. Maybe those fertility control vaccines or pine martens could be a game changer? 
.
But seriously, can't they just focus on, like, not introducing invasive species in the first place? I mean, it's not like the UK is known for its squirrel whispering abilities or anything... 
. It's not just about saving these cute creatures, it's about preserving our biodiversity too 
can we really afford to wait for more solutions? 
and whats with the contraception vaccines for greys tho? 
pine martens could be game changer but we need more info 
can tge gov make this happen ASAP? 
but we gotta keep pushin for more action from the gov 