Squirrel work welcomed

SOUTH Scotland members of a network attempting to save red squirrels have welcomed a scientific breakthrough this week. The Red Squirrel Recovery Network reports that Scotland’s only native squirrel species could be lost in the a decade without continuous and extensive conservation effort. Currently landowners and groups battle the invasive grey squirrel populations by setting traps. However, research at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute has taken a big step forward with a contraceptive designed for use in the animals proving effective in rats. Experts are now focused on increasing the scale and longevity of the treatment, so that it can be used in the wild. This would help to manage the threat posed by grey squirrels, which can spread disease to the endangered native red population, as well as taking over habitats. The recent development is a landmark moment for the National Lottery funded Red Squirrel Recovery Network’s bid to address critical threats to one of Scotland’s most loved wildlife species. It also marked the start of Red Squirrel Awareness Week, which is running until October 12. Dumfriesshire farmer Michael Clarke is urging everyone to take part and submit sightings of red squirrels to scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/.