FAQ: Are there any alternatives to controlling grey squirrel numbers in order to protect red squirrels?
No. At this time halting further spread of grey squirrels at strategically targeted points is the only viable option to protect existing strong red squirrel populations across north and northwest Scotland. The arrival of grey squirrels in an area occupied by reds squirrels results in reduced survival rates amongst red squirrel young and reduced reproductive rates, causing the gradual decline in red squirrel populations over time.
Other methods including habitat improvements, grey squirrel contraceptives, a squirrelpox vaccine, and the creation of red squirrel sanctuaries and captive breeding programmes are often suggested as alternative solutions. However, these are not realistic alternatives at this time or are insufficient on their own.
Habitat improvement is one of the project aims for SSRS. Habitat management can help red squirrels thrive and increase in number, however trees take time to grow and it can take decades to reap the benefits of changes to the habitat. It is an important part of a long-term strategy but this type of action is not enough in the short-term to protect the red squirrel and ensure its survival.
Squirrel contraceptives and vaccines against squirrelpox are in development but it could be many years before either of these is available in the affordable and easily dispensable form necessary to assist red squirrel conservation. If developed, we hope this could be an important part of managing grey population numbers in the long-term.
The creation of red squirrel sanctuaries could allow red squirrels to survive in small pockets across Scotland, however our project is trying to project the red squirrel as a wild native Scottish mammal. The project will collaborate with Forestry Commission Scotland in developing ‘red squirrel strongholds’; large areas of habitat which suit red squirrels but which are managed so as to make them unattractive to grey squirrels. These will act as refuges for a number of red squirrel populations if our project is not successful in checking the spread of grey squirrels across Scotland in the long-term.
Captive breeding programmes are very expensive, laborious and would not allow red squirrels to be retained as a wild Scottish mammal. Red squirrels tend to be difficult to breed successfully in captive conditions.
