Saving the Red Squirrels from Pox

I have heard that a very small percentage of red squirrels show a degree of resistance to the pox virus. Unfortunately, this is a very small percentage, and the experts seem to think that developing resistance on population level would take far longer than it is likely to take for the grey squirrel and the pox virus to wipe out the reds. It will be interesting to see what this new research comes up with.

Hi Trochilus

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, I agree, I wonder what the research will show.

The thing that pleases me is that there has been funds given towards the research in the first place. 

Now it is the waiting game.

I have heard that there are small pockets of Red Squirrels here and there in unexpected places - how true is that?

Regards

Kathy and Dave

A 4 year study?? Although that's great, 4 years is a long time... I hope not too long...

Nicki C said:

Hi there

There is an article in Earth News about the Pox.

A new scientific breakthough has caused an outcry for a 4 year study of the disease amongst the Reds.

http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8283000/8283736.stm

Personally, I have heard that the Red Squirrels are coming more immune to the disease now.  If this is the case the species might be saved yet - we can only hope now.

http://www.welshwildlife.org/redsquirrelproject_en.link

http://www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk/re...rrel/index.htm

I hope that the links works.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

 

 

In addition to Brownsea, the Isle of Wight has reds, as does Cumbria and parts of Herts.