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Culling Plan To Control Grey Squirrels

A plan to cull grey squirrels where they are damaging woodland and preventing red squirrels from becoming established has been launched.

Biodiversity Minister, Jim Knight said the UK-wide plan would focus on “effective and humane control of grey squirrels” in areas where they pose a threat to sustainable woodland management and to ensure the long-term survival of red squirrels. Mr Knight said the idea is not to completely eradicate grey squirrels whose population is estimated at over 2 million. But he said: “we must control them effectively now or there will be serious consequences.”

Mr Knight added: “Through humane and targeted pest control in the areas where this damage is most critical, local woodland and wildlife managers - with the full backing and expertise of the Forestry Commission - will be able to control and contain these threats, and preserve or rebalance some of our native ecology.”

The grey squirrel was introduced into this country from North America in the 19th century and has spread widely, especially in lowland areas. They are regarded as pests by a number of groups because of the damage they cause to woodland. They are largely responsible for the decline of the red squirrel in England because they are stronger and more adaptable than the red and they carry the Squirrelpox virus, which is lethal to red squirrels. The action plan and the policy behind it have been developed jointly by Defra and the Forestry Commission.

It can also be viewed on the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk/greysquirrel.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .