Squirrel Myths
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Are reds native to the UK?
Deforestation for agriculture, fuel and war caused red squirrels to become extinct in Ireland and Southern Scotland by the early 18th century, and rare in the Scottish Highlands by the early 19th century. Reds were reintroduced to Scotland from England, and in 1793 Scandinavian Reds were brought in to save the species. In 1837, 20,000 imported red squirrels were sold in London – many of whom escaped into the wild. Boosted by the reintroduction of foreign reds, and by massive reforestation of conifers replacing the broadland leaf, red squirrel numbers recovered rapidly and by the late 1800s reached peak numbers.
Deforestation for agriculture, fuel and war caused red squirrels to become extinct in Ireland and Southern Scotland by the early 18th century, and rare in the Scottish Highlands by the early 19th century. Reds were reintroduced to Scotland from England, and in 1793 Scandinavian Reds were brought in to save the species. In 1837, 20,000 imported red squirrels were sold in London – many of whom escaped into the wild. Boosted by the reintroduction of foreign reds, and by massive reforestation of conifers replacing the broadland leaf, red squirrel numbers recovered rapidly and by the late 1800s reached peak numbers.
“It is well known that the grey squirrel was brought from North America to England in the late 19th Century but less well known that ancestors of the current population of red squirrels in the UK have been largely introduced from various parts of Europe. There is no longer a ‘native’ red squirrel due to the frequent introductions from Europe and habitat defragmentation which has allowed gene flow between previously subdivided populations.” (Harris et al, 2007).
References
The vast majority of organisations are informing the public that grey squirrels cannot be released if they are trapped, and that they must be killed. This is false. If the squirrel is trapped (for example, in a bird feeder, on your property, or in netting in a park), free it. The law still permits freeing grey squirrels and releasing them where they were found. www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/squirrels/injured
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