In a dire warning, leading squirrel conservation groups in England say the beloved red squirrel faces imminent extinction unless the government urgently funds the development of a vaccine against the deadly squirrelpox virus. The native species is already under extreme pressure from booming populations of invasive North American grey squirrels, which outcompete their red cousins for food and territory.
But it’s the squirrelpox virus, carried by up to 70% of grey squirrels, that delivers the fatal blow to red squirrels. The virus is harmless to greys but lethal to reds, causing a slow, agonizing death. In areas where squirrelpox is present, it can accelerate the replacement of red squirrels by greys up to 25 times faster than through competition alone.
Plummeting Red Squirrel Populations
Once widespread across the UK, red squirrels have already vanished from most of England, clinging to survival only in the northern counties of Cumbria and Northumberland. Robert Benson, founder of the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group, paints a grim picture:
We’re facing a huge surge of grey squirrels. We think they are breeding three or four times a year, and having four or five kits each time, leading to a massive expansion in grey squirrel numbers.
Warmer winters due to climate change are thought to be fueling the grey squirrel population explosion by enabling more frequent breeding. Benson’s group, covering 600 square miles of Cumbria, has had to take on an eighth full-time ranger and teams of volunteers to try to control burgeoning grey numbers. But without help, he fears it’s a losing battle.
Squirrelpox Vaccine Critical
Conservation groups like Benson’s are pleading with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England to take the plight of red squirrels seriously. They say government funding for a squirrelpox vaccine is critical to saving the species.
Extensive research into a squirrelpox vaccine has been ongoing, but lack of resources is hampering progress. Conservationists warn that with red squirrel numbers plummeting so rapidly, the window to deploy a vaccine to viable populations is closing fast. As Benson puts it:
Unless we can manage to control that grey surge, the chances are, in two or three years, the red population will begin to disappear.
Broader Ecological Impacts
Beyond the heartbreaking prospect of losing a treasured native species, the demise of red squirrels could have wider ecological repercussions. Grey squirrels are considered an invasive species in the UK, causing damage to woodlands and preying on bird eggs and chicks.
They also threaten commercial forestry, stripping bark from and killing young trees. This has economic as well as environmental impacts. Without natural predators in their non-native range, there are fears grey squirrel numbers could skyrocket further without the competition of reds.
Government Action Needed
Squirrel conservation groups are urging the government to prioritize red squirrel protection and take decisive steps, including:
- Fast-tracking and fully funding squirrelpox vaccine development
- Implementing coordinated grey squirrel population control
- Supporting red squirrel breeding and reintroduction programs
- Improving woodland management to favor reds
They argue that investing in saving red squirrels isn’t just about preserving a beloved species, but about protecting the health and biodiversity of native ecosystems. Defra says it is aware of the threats to red squirrels and is working with partners on conservation efforts, but conservationists say much more urgent action is needed.
For Robert Benson and countless other dedicated red squirrel defenders, it’s a race against time to save this iconic species before it disappears from England’s woodlands forever. Let’s hope the government heeds their call before it’s too late.
