Red or Grey?

In this post I'm going to bring something up that has been on my mind for a while now. For you who live in the UK you will most likely know that seeing a red squirrel is rare however the grey is everywhere.

How come it ended up like this? 

And what does red squirrel conservation mean for the grey squirrels?

To answer the first question we have to look back in time a bit. The UK before 1870 only had one species of squirrels which was the little red one with super cute ear tufts and fuzzy long tails. These speedy little fluffs enjoyed their lives chewing their favourite pine seeds in their very much preferred coniferous forests. If the autumn was bountiful they would prepare for winter by gaining some love handles in case the supply of stored fungi, green acorns and hazelnuts grew spares during the chillier time. Also for the females who might later have to eat for two, three or maybe four little ones. Accordingly to the UK Woodland Trust there were about 3.5 millions red squirrels. 

They did good.

Unfortunately a long the way something happened and the population of red squirrels dived and was later on believed to hit the shocking number of 15.000. Most of you probably already know why and yes it is because of the great grey squirrel. But is it really the grey's fault? I mean it's not like their doggy paddle swimming took them all over the Atlantic ocean, in fact I've never seen a squirrel in water what so ever (Just googled it, and they can swim, google never lies). I'm going to be gentle and say it's not anyone's fault per but the lack of knowledge. About 150 years ago the UK introduced the grey squirrel as a ornamental species (for display and curiosity). I guess you could say the curiosity got the better of them. For these little greys where here to stay, here for the long run. What humans did not know back then we know now, on behalf of the red squirrels lives.

You see, what they did not know was this:

• Grey squirrels are carriers of Squirrel Pox Virus which have a 100% mortality rate for the red squirrels and most of them die within 15 days.
• Greys coming from an oak/hickory forest in eastern America were used to the tannin that exists in very raw acorns whilst the UK's red squirrels found green acorn inedible. Leaving them with barely any mature acorns. And the acorns they do find and store away have been found raided by guess who.
• Personal space is a big deal for red squirrels, they do not like more than 2-3 per hectare. Barging in on their territory with the high number of 15 per hectare, the reds have no chance.
• Not only do they like their personal space, they like woodland. Which to be honest declined drastically as well. But as you know greys can be found not only in woodland but in parks and even cities. 

In the competition of nature the greys where never worried, they were always going to have the advantage. But as of December 2019 the competition changed and it is now the greys turns to be driven out. Driven out by the apex predator known as humans. 

So today if you find an injured grey squirrel and you want to help it, there is no help to be found. Vets and rescue centres are no longer allowed to help these innocent creatures but rather they must "humanely" dispatch "it". If they don't they commit a crime. 

I know that we can't continue letting the greys run wild but I just could not kill them especially when it wasn't there choice to be here in the first place. Plus I don't care what anyone says there is no such thing as an "humane" death. Although you could argue that the death by a stoat might be more painful? 

But what bothers me more is that the greys are so easily used as a scapegoat when other animals get a free card. For example cats and I don't mean the European or the Scottish wildcat, but the domestic ones. So one of the complaints about greys are that they destroy bird nests (which the reds do too) but its been shown, hold on to your chair, that cats kill 27 million birds per year. Not only do they target birds but calculating all their prey per year it amounts up to 92 million. That's insane! Have you ever seen a legislation for culling cats in the UK because I haven't.

Don't get me wrong I like cats I just think their should be some sort of equilibrium to treat all animals equally and in my own humble opinion I believe cats should be walked and treated in the same way as we do with dogs. 

As a hopefully future conservationist but also passionate wildlife advocate this example of "right" and "wrong" is something that always is going to be on my mind. Where do I draw my ethical line? Where do you draw yours?

Article about how cats affect wildlife click here.

More reading about squirrels found here and here.