Hi there
I found this while investigating some of the websites. New road signs for Red Squirrels - to protect them as a species. It looks although some Red Squirrels have been in heavy competition with local cars in the area.... the cars won.
Been to Arran for a week to cut down Rhoddie bushes many years ago, and I still remember my visits especially to Brodrck Castle - must dig out those old photo's to scan in.
Anyway the full story is as the link shows:
http://www.arranbanner.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2317/Watch_out,_there_s_a_red_squirrel_about.html
http://www.arranbanner.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1654/Arran_set_to_be_red_squirrel_stronghold.html
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi WF
This is a hot subject each and every time it is mentioned to any wildlife lovers on my Forums.
There are lots of sides to the debate, and everyone has their own opinions.
I do not wish for any animal to suffer not once, but two times at the expense of human ignorance ie Greys. We introduced them we need to sort the problem out for the Reds.
Grey Squirrels like to eat young trees, and like the green flesh of the trees, They also like to make holes in our houses and chew wiring so if that happened it could cause a fire and a lot of damage.
If it was the case the Greys did not carry the Pox that would help matters. It would put them in a position to be as well loved as the Reds. Greys breed well like em... Greys and are more robust than Reds. They have larger families.
With Reds you can increase their habitiat that they need to survive/live. Sadly the Reds habitat is getting less avaliable for them. They are very selective about their foods. Still they like a nut or two from our feeders as all Squirrels do. We need to address the issue and help the Reds as much as we can.
On the other hand Greys can live in any type of habitat as it is more adapatable and is less afraid of humans. They eat just about anything {hence their nickname TreeRat}. They eat bird eggs, and I am sure they are only to happy to predate on birds offspring too. They appear to have a distructive side to them. They are the aggressive one of the two species we have in our country.
Too many differences between them to compare them in any way. They are worlds apart.