Best for Wildlife - Red or Greys?

Red squirrels remain in strongholds across the UK, especially in Scotland, where they had previously been extinct due to culling, and had to be brought in from England and Scandinavia. Their main source of food is pinecones, which are found in Scotland’s woodlands while England’s more deciduous environment is far better suited to greys. Red squirrels also are found on the Isle of Wight, where there are no greys. Britain, Italy and Ireland are the only countries in the world to have both greys and red squirrels, while reds are found across Europe. Rather than vilifying grey squirrels, the future for red squirrels lies in regenerating our forests and investing in the squirrel pox vaccine.3

For many people, grey squirrels are one of the few wild mammals that they encounter in urban environments bereft of wildlife. Many of us love to see their graceful bodies weave up and down trees and their bold curiosity as they come running up to us. The so-called harm that they allegedly do can easily be mitigated, without bludgeoning them to death in sacks.