According to a recent survey, grey squirrels are encroaching on the final red squirrel strongholds in England.
As part of their annual squirrel inspection, volunteers from Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE), a conservation organization, visited 246 locations.
They discovered that although the number of red squirrels was still there, grey squirrels now exceeded them in Northumberland and Cumbria.
Abbie McQueen, project officer for Red Squirrels Northern England, described the significant increase in grey squirrels as “concerning,” but added that “we hope it can help build a case for further funding in areas that need it.”
The larger and more aggressive grey squirrel, which originated in North America, is categorized as an invasive non-native species.
It carries the virus that kills red squirrels slowly and cruelly, but it is unaffected by it.
