Humans are reds' real enemy
SIR, — I was interested to read your article which mentions a conference which took place relating to the so-called problem of grey squirrels ('Herald', October 11).
Your article mentions that grey squirrels carry squirrelpox which is fatal in reds. The reason grey squirrels are carriers of the virus is because the ones which survived in the past now have immunity.
Like grey squirrels, lots of red squirrels may die from this disease, but those which survive will have an immunity to the disease and be stronger as a result.
This is nature at work, and the greys cannot be blamed for now having immunity.
The idea that the grey population is out of control is groundless.
Any population which survives off the land it lives on (which doesn't include humans since we get our food from often distant sources), will fluctuate in numbers depending on the resources available on the land.
So the population is being supported by the land, and therefore can't be out of control.
The real problem is that red squirrels are being forced out by human destruction of their habitat.
Grey squirrels are just more successful at surviving in many different habitats, and surviving with humans — reds only thrive in pine forests, which are currently unfashionable among conservationists, who prefer to plant more aesthetically pleasing trees (suitable only for grey squirrels), and cut down as much pine forest as possible.
If Lord Rupert Redesdale put his effort into getting large pine forests planted, he'd do far more for red squirrels than killing greys will ever do.
The fact that there is a desire to have red squirrels as an emblem for the area appears to show there is more to this than just wanting to save red squirrels.
It suggests tourism money is at stake and red squirrels are seen as a tourism money-spinner, beyond grants to kill grey squirrels.
If anyone is interested in the subject, then they may want to have a read of our website at www.grey-squirrel.org.uk for further information.
If you have any similar stories in the future, I'd welcome a little of the grey squirrel side of the story being included.
NEIL
profacorn@grey-squirrel.org.uk
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Weather for Morpeth
Thursday 24 May 2012
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