Why Grey Squirrels Are Not To Blame

‘Redhead’ by Hannah Dale

Grey squirrels are not driving out red squirrels, they simply adapt better as they have more body fat, and weight almost twice as much as red squirrels. They are also better foraging on the ground, unlike reds who spend most of their lives high in conifer trees. Some squirrels also nest in lofts and sheds, and tree logging harms (one lad on his paper round once found a complete nest, they love oak and broadleaf trees especially. The reason for the demise of red squirrels is deforestation and habitat loss, which is why they disappeared in Ireland and Scotland, way before grey squirrels were introduced to Europe. In protected areas, they often happily co-exist alongside grey squirrels.

Red squirrels are not native to England, they are a sub-species of Scandinavian squirrels, and have poor immunity and less native food. Grey squirrels were introduced to England from North America. They can carry a disease called poxvirus, but have now built up immunity, whereas red squirrels have not, there lies the issue. But to cull grey squirrels is a knee-jerk reaction. Red squirrels have poor immunity, due to little native food (they can’t digest acorns and have few native pine forests left). Losing their habitat means losing their immunity.

The government has refused to listen to the scientific advice of wildlife vets and rescue charities, that are appalled at UK law for culls that involve clubbing some squirrels alive, and leaving the kittens to die. Other methods to kill grey squirrels include Warfarin (which causes awful bleeding) or even shooting squirrels in endangered trees.

Rescue charity Wildlife Aid says not allowing grey squirrels to be rescued, just means the rescuers will go underground, doing more harm than good. Founder Simon Cowell (not that one) says ‘The proposed regulation sends the wrong message to a public which is more concerned about the state of the natural world than ever. It is saddening to see such ill-informed policy at a time when great strides have been made in raising awareness of environmental issues’.

The answer to restoring red squirrel populations is to restore their habitats (plant pine trees!) and this will naturally build up their immunity against poxvirus. The government wrongly says to feed red squirrels, but this will not work as they can’t digest acorns, and need native pine trees.

In Ireland (which along with Italy is the only other country where you have both grey and red squirrels), pine martens are naturally taking care of populations, as greys tend to live more on the ground. Sad but this is nature, rather than government interference. Oral contraception to grey squirrels could help.

How to Help (all) Squirrels

Lucy Grossmith

1. Don’t feed squirrels artificially. Grey squirrels can live on wild food, but red squirrels can’t digest acorns. Avoid squirrel-proof bird feeders, as many squirrels get trapped.
2. Sign the petition at 38 Degrees to stop the grey squirrel cull. This is asking instead for government to plant more pine forests, and use humane ideas like oral contraception for grey squirrels.
3. Don’t wear fur. Many types are from squirrels. If you own an old fur coat, donate it to a wildlife shelter that will cut it up, and use the squares as ‘surrogate mums’ for baby orphaned wildlife. Small shops can order free window stickers from Fur Free Retailer to reassure customers.
4. Some paint brushes are made with squirrel fur. Wonder Forest Watercolour Brush Set (Canada) does require international shipping, but it’s a one-off purchase for artists that offers quality brushes made with synthetic fur, with tips pointed to razor precision for fine detail work (they also hold water very well). Sold in a set of 6, you can also buy a Wash Brush. Recycle plastic in supermarket bag bins.
5. Some cosmetic brushes are also made with squirrel hair. Choose fur-free alternatives like Flawless & Nicmac.

Link Love

1. Professor Acorn is a very informative website (authored by a grey squirrel!) who goes into great detail on why it’s wrong to label his brothers and sisters as the villains. He educates the public on how deforestation of pine trees (the native trees to Scandinavian reds) that is the main issue. This is borne out by the fact that areas that still retain native trees (like Northumberland and the Scottish Highlands) are the areas where red squirrels thrive.
2. Animal Aid is at the forefront of the campaign to try to educate the public on the issues with grey and red squirrels. They are aghast that Wildlife Trusts (which are against badger culling) are not opposed to culling, and instead want better tree-planting patterns and red squirrels established on islands, to build up immune systems.
3. Squirrels Info is a small site packed with info on how to help all squirrels. Their Hampshire charity always needs help with transport to take squirrels to them (no special skills required, their site has tips on how to hold a squirrel (by the neck scruff, supporting the wriggling bottom). They also welcome donations of nuts (not salted).
4. Urban Squirrels (London) is a squirrel rescue group and sanctuary. Experts in squirrel welfare, they say that government policy to feed red squirrels artificially and cull grey squirrels is ‘madness’. One argument used to cull grey squirrels is that they attack birds’ nests. Yes they do – but so do red squirrels and cats. Stripping bark from woodland trees is actually good for other wildlife, as it gives access to grubs. And culling grey squirrels just makes them breed more, which produces more kittens.

Reading List

1. Squirrel’s Sweater is a lovely children’s book about how a colourful gang of woodland friends help a squirrel to  navigate and accept change (so we hopefully end up with the next generation not having kneejerk reactions, any time nature doesn’t conform). As Winter Warmup nears, Bear, Porcupine and Doe are all ready to hunker down for winter, but when Squirrel discovers that the sweater her grandma knit for her shrunk, she doesn’t know what to do. No amount of stretching or sewing or help from her friends, seems to fix her favourite sweater. The answer is – perhaps it doesn’t need to stay a sweater? The book includes an activity to help young readers transform a piece of their own clothing into a no-sew pillow.
2. A Scurry of Squirrels is by Polly Pullar, who is known for being the saviour of red squirrels in her native Scotland.  However, she does this not by culling but by planting over 5000 trees and dense hedgerows on her farm in the Highlands, and leaving areas untouched to ‘let nature manage nature’. In just 20 years, her efforts have brought spectacular results, and in this book she shares her experiences, from hand-rearing numerous litters of orphaned kittens, to eventually returning them to the wild. 70% of red squirrels now live north of the border, proving that her methods work.
3. Read The True History of Grey Squirrels in Britain by wildlife consultant John Bryant. This gives a good overview of the issues and humane solutions by a man who was England’s top consultant on humane wildlife control, before his death.

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. John Muir