Surprising Find: Colony of Red Squirrels Discovered in England

The Roux squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), formerly common in European and British forests, is today in danger. It is becoming increasingly rare while its gray cousin (Sawdore carolinensis) invades the landscape.

From the end of the 19th century, the introduction of the gray squirrel from North America sparked a series of ecological upheavals. The two squirrel species are in competition for resources and habitats, but this is not the only problem.

Red squirrels identified with thermal cameras

The gray squirrel can also transmit the smallpox, a fatal disease for the red squirrel. An epidemic of smallpox could decimate the population of red squirrels in England. The discovery of a new colony of these little rodents is therefore excellent news in these times of uncertainty.

Several individuals of this endangered species have been seen by Julie Bailey of the UK Squirrel Agreement (UKSA) as part of field surveillance. It is a British partnership in conservation and forestry organizations.

Julie Bailey initially spotted four red squirrels thanks to thermal cameras placed in a Sitka spruce plantation located in the North Yorkshire. Intrigued by these rather rare observations, she obtained the owners' agreement to place other cameras.

There are only 160,000 red squirrels left in the United Kingdom

“” The owners of the plantation gave their authorization to study a specific area using a thermal imaging technology which captures body heat She explains.

To his surprise, the two new cameras revealed that a skimming colony had indeed settled in the area. This plantation is in the Yorkshire Dales, a region for its many valleys and caves. It is used for the production of wood and paper pulp as well as for Christmas trees.

This is the first time that small red rodents have been identified in this plantation. Julie Bailey thinks that the colony will be able to prosper there. It is all the more important that there are only 160,000 red squirrels left in the United Kingdom.

Volunteers will ensure the protection of these red squirrels

Their habitats are now limited to Scotland, Ireland, the southern coast of England and certain parts of the north of the country. A new group of volunteers, The Yorkshire Dales Red Squirrel Alliancewas created. Its objective is to protect these red squirrels and monitor trees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Boo32NCUDSM

“” A local volunteer who lives near the plantation has managed non -native gray squirrels for some time and his work has enabled these red squirrels to settle in planting “Adds Julie Bailey.

Plantation owners are “delighted” to be able to participate in the protection of red squirrels. They gave Julie Bailey the permission to carry out an investigation into the entire plantation.

A promising future for the Roux squirrels of the County of Yorkshire

In addition, other red squirrel populations are just a few kilometers from the plantation. Julie Bailey is therefore optimistic about the future of red rodents in the county of Yorkshire.

“” Our indigenous red squirrels constitute an important part of our natural heritage and the discovery of a new population in the Northern Yorkshire is a positive step in our common goal of protecting, identifying and strengthening populations across England “Says Rebecca Isted, advisor to the forestry committee.

Source: BBC