Native red squirrels are on the verge of a significant triumph in their long-standing struggle for survival against the grey squirrels in one of Scotland’s major cities.
A project has announced a “significant decline” in grey squirrels – which they say could be completely eradicated from Aberdeen “in the near future”.
For decades, red squirrels struggled to establish themselves in the city, as thousands of grey squirrels held a stronghold there, serving as the last refuge for the non-native species north of Argyll and Tayside.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS), which is led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, has trapped over 10,000 greys since 2009.
Native red squirrels are on the verge of a significant triumph in their long-standing struggle for survival against the grey squirrels in one of Scotland’s major citiesPAThis year, only 12 instances have been recorded in the city, consisting of seven at feeders and five confirmed sightings.
“In Aberdeen, what we have seen over the last four years is a consistent and significant decline in the numbers of grey squirrels trapped, and in the number of detections we have had both in terms of sightings, and hair samples at feeders,” Dr Emma Sheehy, SSRS’s eradication scientific lead for northeast Scotland told The Times.
“This is a result of long-term, consistent trapping since 2009, and in more recent years, adapting our methods to become much more targeted in our trapping, as grey squirrel densities in the city declined.
“This year we have had seven grey squirrel detections at feeders, which we think are from just three individuals, out of more than 5,000 feeder checks so far this year.
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“We have also had just five sightings, including a young grey squirrel photographed in September, confirming that they are still breeding in at least one area of the city.”
Scotland hosts around 80 per cent of the UK’s red squirrel population, but the native species has faced challenges due to the expansion of grey squirrels.
Originally brought to Britain from North America in the 19th century, grey squirrels outcompete reds for resources and can carry squirrelpox—a virus harmless to them but fatal to red squirrels.
Grey squirrels reached Aberdeen in the 1970s, completely displacing the native red squirrels.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS), which is led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, has trapped over 10,000 greys since 2009
PA
However, years of management efforts by SSRS eventually facilitated the reds’ comeback.
Sheehy added: “How long it will take to achieve complete eradication will depend on our ability to remove the remaining few squirrels.
“Although it may seem counter-intuitive, this late stage of the removal phase is undoubtedly the biggest challenge the team will have faced to date, not least because of the urban/semi-urban environment which we are working in.
“Because of the challenges of detecting grey squirrels at such low densities, public sightings are more important and crucial to our efforts than ever.”