Report from Chris Smith.
Seeing red over illegal squirrel release
By John Ross in the Scotsman 2 nd March 2004
EVEN to those dedicated to saving animals, the issue of managing the
squirrel population can be a grey area. Especially if your first
priority is to the red variety, which is under threat from its larger,
grey cousin.
Now a group looking after red squirrels has accused a small animal
rescue organisation of acting illegally and irresponsibly by releasing
greys back into the wild.
A website run by Meon Valley Squirrel Rescue, a family-run centre in
Hampshire with a network of helpers, has indicated it is releasing
injured or orphaned greys back into the wild despite this being illegal.
The website states: "It is technically illegal to release a grey
squirrel back into the wild, but it is surprising how often a squirrel
will 'escape' after treatment and recovery!!! If you think your
squirrel is ready to escape, the ideal place is where it originally
came from, assuming that it is safe (away from traffic and people) and
is unlikely to upset commercial foresters or gamekeepers."
The advice has angered red squirrel experts who say the release of
greys into the wild is unacceptable in Scotland and has to be stopped.
Just last month the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation
was launched, saying that reds in Scotland continue to be threatened,
particularly by development, woodland management and competition from
the grey squirrel.
There are about 121,000 red squirrels in Scotland - about 75 per cent
of the UK population. They are outnumbered by greys which were
introduced to Britain from the US between 1876 and 1929.
Dr Gus Jones, spokesman for Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation
Group, which is represented on the Scottish Squirrel Group, said: "Our
native red squirrels are threatened in large measure because of past
ill-considered introductions of the North American grey squirrel. It
is vital that grey squirrels do not invade `red-only' areas.
"The Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation just launched,
spells out the need to concentrate efforts on stopping the spread of
grey squirrels into new areas.
"The long-term survival of red squirrels in Britain may hinge on
keeping pinewoods in Strathspey Morayshire Grampian and the north of
Scotland free of greys. These efforts could so easily be undermined by
irresponsible and illegal actions that seem to be advocated on this
website."
Lindsey Maguire, who runs the squirrel rescue centre with his wife,
said: "We are involved with animal rescue and if someone brings you a
squirrel what can you do? You can't just throw it in the bin. If you
are an animal rescuer you take in all sorts of animals and your
instinct is to try to preserve its life."
He said in the last year he has helped about 20 people, each with one
grey squirrel, release them into area already with greys. He added:
"I'm not breeding them and not encouraging people to be irresponsible,
all I'm doing is saving the occasional life."
A spokeswoman for Scottish Natural Heritage said: "According to
section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is illegal to
release alien species such as grey squirrels into the wild. So if you
found an injured grey squirrel your choice would be to take it to a
vet to have it put down or keep it in captivity for the rest of its life."
© The Scotsman, 2 nd March 2004
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