This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Action to save squirrels from extinction
27/02/2006
Scotland's red squirrel population is likely to be extinct by the end of the century unless urgent action is taken to conserve the threatened native species.
That's the stark warning Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin issued at the first ever international conference on red squirrel conservation in Edinburgh today.
Over 130 delegates attending the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) event will start to draw up an action plan to prevent the spread of the deadly squirrel pox virus which is carried by the non native greys but fatal to red squirrels. It comes after five greys were found with antibodies to the virus north of the border last year.
The event, organised by SNH in association with the Scottish Executive and Forestry Commission Scotland, will profile red squirrel work carried out in Scotland, the UK and Italy, including leading scientific research into the disease.
Rhona Brankin said: "I am proud that Scotland is home to 75 percent of the UK's red squirrel population and in my view our efforts here today represent the last hope for this iconic species.
"Failure to take immediate action to save red squirrels from the disease resistant greys and loss of habitat could result in them starting to die out in the next fifty years. We must work together now to prevent this happening.
"The future of this emblematic mammal is in our hands and in the hands of the public, many of whom are already giving their valuable time to take part in the SNH Scottish Squirrel Survey which I launched in January.
"There is no time to lose and I am asking that SNH and my department produces an integrated, effective and costed plan for red squirrel conservation action within three months of today's conference."
Colin Galbraith, director of scientific and advisory services at SNH said:
"This is a critical time for red squirrels in Scotland and it is really important that we coordinate our efforts to protect them. Non-native grey squirrels, which are the main threat to reds are now in many parts of Scotland and the squirrel pox virus has recently been identified here. We now have a list of 127 priority woodlands for red squirrel conservation.
"We need to work together with local groups and land managers in these woods, and elsewhere, to help implement work on the ground. The conference is an important way to bring the key people involved in conserving the species together so we can share what we know so far and develop a plan for action."
Gordon Patterson at Forestry Commission Scotland, added his support for the conference and explained how woodland management has an important role to play in the future of squirrels in Scotland:
"Red squirrels benefit from a range of ages and species of trees and shrubs, especially conifers, though they will also live in broadleaved woodlands in regions with no grey squirrels like the Highlands. Measures need to be mainly focussed on the areas with the greatest prospects for red squirrels - usually large areas of conifer forest with the least attractive habitats for grey squirrels.
"Forestry Commission Scotland supports red squirrel conservation through its management of the national forest estate and by offering grants and advice to private landowners."
Speakers will present work in Scotland, including research into the squirrel pox virus, which was first identified in Scotland in June 2005, when grey squirrels were found to be carrying antibodies for the virus. They will examine implementation of the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation and summarise the work carried out in research and experiences of practical work to benefit red squirrels.
There will also be a presentation of work in Italy, where grey squirrels were introduced in 1948 - the only country in mainland Europe to have them. Recent mapping work indicates that the species is likely to spread into France and Switzerland in the next few decades.
Experts and those involved in red squirrel conservation work will attend the event. Delegates will attend workshops to develop ideas on monitoring, priority areas for red squirrel conservation, improvement and management of woodlands for red squirrels and management of threats.
Scotland supports 121,000 (75 per cent) of the estimated total of 161,000 red squirrels in the UK.
The grey squirrel was first introduced to Britain in 1876 (in England). In Scotland it was introduced in three places: Argyll (1892), Fife (1919) and Edinburgh (around 1919). It has since spread south into the Borders and north into Perthshire. Grey squirrels are now widespread in central and southern Scotland with isolated pockets in Aberdeen and Deeside. Their spread is likely to continue.
To date, five grey squirrels have been shown to be carrying specific antibodies to the squirrel pox virus by test done at the Moredun Research Institute at Roslin. The virus causes a pustular dermatitis in red squirrels that has the appearance of myxamatosis in rabbits. All infected red squirrels succumb to the disease within 15 days. Grey squirrel can carry the virus with no detectable symptoms, and therefore live to spread it more widely.
The Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation was produced by the Scottish Squirrel Group, which is chaired by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Forestry Commission Scotland, and includes local red squirrel conservation groups around the country. It includes a plan to develop priority woodlands for conservation of red squirrels, better monitoring of squirrels and protecting and improving habitat for red squirrels.
The Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris is Scotland's only native species of squirrel. The species is listed in Appendix III of the Berne Convention, is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act and is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. The JNCC heads up the UK Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation, and a new Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation was launched in January 2004.
The main cause of decline of the red squirrel is the spread of the grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, which is native to North America. In areas of broadleaved and mixed woodland, the grey squirrel has an advantage over the red as it is able to utilise and digest acorns and large seeds more efficiently. This results in reduced breeding success for red squirrels. In time, the grey squirrels out-compete the reds, resulting in a depletion of a local red squirrel population within about 15 years, although it can sometimes take as little as five years, depending on conditions. It also carries a deadly red squirrel pox virus.