This may be gruesome, but it’s the grim reality of the damage caused by grey squirrels
Wildlife chiefs defend cull
Published:
EYES swollen and her body ravaged by disease.
This animal has squirrel pox.
And it is one of the reasons animal welfare bosses said they need to halt the spread of grey squirrels.
Although wildlife chiefs have no intention of wiping out grey squirrels in the North-east they said action needs to be taken to stop their growing numbers.
The greys are carriers of the pox which can be passed on to the reds. The greys are immune to the disease.
A row broke out over the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Scottish Natural Heritage’s bid to save native red squirrels.
They said the spread of the grey species must be stopped to avoid the extinction of red squirrels.
Bosses insist a cull around the Aberdeen area will be sensitive, controlled and with the animals’ welfare in mind.
But the move has sparked outrage a among animal lovers in the North-east.
Pet and Animal Welfare Support Service (Pawss) charity is to stage a protest on Monday outside Scottish Natural Heritage’s office in Aberdeen’s Rubislaw Terrace.
And a recent survey showed 54% of people in the region were against the plan.
Representatives from SWT and SNH met the Evening Express to outline why the move is vital.
The wildlife trust’s project manager for Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Dr Mel Tonkin said: “The purpose of the project is to halt the spread of the greys and a cull – combined with other measures – is really the only option.”
Dr Tonkin explained the grey squirrel’s superior metabolism and larger size makes it extremely difficult for reds to compete with them – often leading to their starvation and the death of their young.
The project will see grey squirrels targeted at ‘pinch points’ in the North-east to prevent their spread further north.
The North-east, where many of the greys are widely found, is key to the project.
The wildlife watchdogs insist ‘live traps’ will be used to capture squirrels to ensure no reds are inadvertently killed. Greys would then be dispatched with a single blow to the head or shot with an air-gun or air-rifle.
Dr Tonkin insisted those involved wanted to minimise any distress to the animals..
David Bale from SNH said: “There are very few reds left in England and no one wants to see that happen in Scotland. Taking no action is not an option – we could actually lose red squirrels within one lifetime.”
