Activities
Fair Game? A Debate on Controlling the Grey Squirrel.
- Watch the relavant video clip from the programme ‘Habitat and Population’.
- Read the letter below in your group.
- Make a quick note of your ideas about the questions and the suggested actions described in the letter.
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Brief for the Forestry Commission Advisory Group
The grey squirrel has increased in numbers since its introduction to this country approximately 100 years ago. During this time the number of red squirrels has decreased. In the last 30 years the number of red squirrels has decreased by 75%. There is growing public concern about the fate of the red squirrel. A decision must be made about any action that should be taken to preserve the red squirrel.
You are asked to gather information about these questions:
1. What makes the grey squirrel successful?
2. Why are red squirrel numbers declining?
3. Can the two species coexist?
Your are also asked to report on possible actions that might be taken, including:
1. Shooting grey squirrels
2. Trapping grey squirrels and killing them
3. Vaccinating red squirrels against the parapox virus
4. Breeding red squirrels for release into the wild
5. Planting conifer trees and feeding red squirrels
I look forward to receiving your report.
Yours faithfully,
Chief Scientific Officer |
Expert Information
Vet
The parapox virus was introduced to this country by grey squirrels. Red squirrels have little resistance to the disease and they often die from it. Grey squirrels are much more resistant. Making a vaccine for the disease will be expensive and it may take a long time. The squirrels will have to be trapped before they can be vaccinated. Squirrels can be killed humanely by breaking their necks. This kills them instantly. Shotguns often do not kill them. They may escape and die from their wounds.
Ecologist
Grey squirrels compete well with red squirrels because they are more aggressive and can gather and eat a range of foods. Because they compete for food, the two species cannot coexist easily. The red squirrel specialises on conifer seed and can find food more quickly in conifer forests. It is possible to feed red squirrels separately in the wild because grey squirrels are heavier. (Feeders are equipped with platforms which trigger the release of food. The platform can be set to release food only when animals of a particular mass stand on the platform.) We have been keeping a population of healthy red squirrels and breeding them for release into the wild. There is no point releasing them at the moment; grey squirrels would chase them away and they would catch the parapox virus, which has infected the wild red squirrel population.
Gamekeeper
I work in a forest area with a mixture of conifers and broadleaved trees. Grey squirrels do very well in this type of forest. Grey squirrels are classified as vermin and can be shot. I usually get them with one shot but sometimes they disappear so I cannot be sure. Trapping them and breaking their necks would be safer and more humane. Once we had removed them from my area of forest the red squirrels would be safe. Our forest is surrounded by open countryside. Some people want to breed the red squirrel and release it into the wild. This is a waste of time. I think that the natural population would increase once the grey squirrel has been controlled.
Local Naturalist
I have records of the estimated numbers of red squirrels for the last 30 years. The population in our local forest has decreased from more than 50 individuals to our latest estimate of 15. Very soon the population will be too small for successful breeding to take place. Red squirrels do well in conifer woodland. I have been examining the possibility of planting particular species to create red squirrel reserves. One difficulty with this is that grey squirrels will travel across open country and can even swim rivers. I am worried about killing the grey squirrel – surely it has as much right to live as our native red species?
© 2000 Channel Four Television Corporation
