Great news ! Red Squirrels increasing.

[norseman]

At last ! Numbers are on the increase and spreading south again. Being seen now in Durham and North Yorkshire - all the efforts have been worth it.

That is good news.
I remember many years back watching a Bill Oddie program about how the only red squirrels in Britain were on the island of Jersey. (I'm sure he had said Britain, though maybe it was just England.)

About two and half years ago while I was staying for a short time in Cupar, Fife, the person there had said that there was a red squirrel on the garden fence - but when I looked it was gone.
I was really disappointed not to have seen it.

So yes, good news indeed.

t.

[Adrienne]

I have never heard of a red squirrel. On rare occasion I have seen a white or black squirrel.

Soulie .... be on the lookout !

White squirrel ! Black squirrel !
I've never even heard of those.

We have grey squirrels in England. I believe they were brought over from America to reduce the population of the red. The grey are a hardier species and they eventually wiped out the red and took over. Some people call them tree rats.

...this could go on indefinitely...

t.

[Adrienne]

white squirrels are winter squirrels, their fur changes to blend in with the snow, black squirrels are mostly seen around Halloween

tree rats, I have also heard the grey squirrels called that

Why would the British want to reduce the red squirrel population by bringing over grey squirrels ? a squirrel is a squirrel, isn't it ?

I had a quick look over the internet for red squirrel info. I don't think the grey was introduced into Britain as a cull on the red. The grey was brought over for reasons I now don't know.

And I also said that most of the red squirrels in England lived on the island of Jersey. It's actually the Isle of Wight.

Memory like a sieve !

t.

[Adrienne]

don't worry about the memory, I wouldn't have known those details to begin with ...

[norseman]

There have always been small populations of Reds in Northumbria and Cumbria. They were protected by volunteer wardens [like me !] and we actively used methods to keep the Greys out.
We should never forget that the Red Squirrel is one of the ancient inhabitants of the British Isles. [ Now, if we could just do the same for that other ancient inhabitant, the wolf ! ]

@Dream Angel - the Grey carries a viral disease which kills the Reds. Slowly but surely, species driven almost to extinction are being re-established and GUARDED.

[LPC]

If you haven't seen it already, Thistle, there is a simple article here: http://www.scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-facts/

It would seem that the introduction of the grey squirrel was little more than an exotic experiment in introducing a non-native species. The first grey squirrels were introduced into Britain in 1876, and the "fashion" was copied by others:
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/flor...ive-in-the-uk/

I'm very fond of red squirrels and am glad that they are re-establishing in the UK. BTW in France the red squirrel is often seen in the countryside and the grey is (as far as I can ascertain) unknown.

[Adrienne]

Originally Posted by norseman

There have always been small populations of Reds in Northumbria and Cumbria. They were protected by volunteer wardens [like me !] and we actively used methods to keep the Greys out.
We should never forget that the Red Squirrel is one of the ancient inhabitants of the British Isles. [ Now, if we could just do the same for that other ancient inhabitant, the wolf ! ]

@Dream Angel - the Grey carries a viral disease which kills the Reds. Slowly but surely, species driven almost to extinction are being re-established and GUARDED.

Thanks for the historic info norseman. I am sorry to hear about that viral disease that kills the Reds. I too hope for their survival and protection.