England’s iconic red squirrels are declining at a rate that suggests imminent extinction, conservationists have warned.
Campaign group Save Our Reds says the species is declining so sharply that, without stronger action, it could disappear from England within a generation. More than 77,000 people have signed its petition calling on the government to do more to protect the animals.
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How many red squirrels are there in Britain?
Once a familiar sight across the British countryside and in children’s literature, red squirrels have all but vanished from many parts of the nation. When Beatrix Potter published The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin in 1903, an estimated 3.5 million red squirrels lived in Britain.
Today, that number is thought to have fallen to about 150,000, with most surviving populations confined to the Scottish Highlands, parts of Cumbria and Northumberland in England, Anglesey, Brownsea Island and the Isle of Wight. In England, the population is thought to be about 15,000.
Are grey squirrels a threat to red squirrels?
The decline of red squirrels is largely attributed to the introduction of grey squirrels from North America in 1876. Greys are bigger, compete more successfully for food and carry squirrelpox, a virus that is deadly to red squirrels but does not affect grey squirrels. There are now an estimated 2.7 million grey squirrels in the UK and they're now officially classified as an invasive, non-native species in the UK by the Wildlife Trusts.
Habitat loss has also played a part, as development has reduced and fragmented the coniferous and broadleaf forests red squirrels depend on.
Save Our Reds is urging the government to introduce a joined-up action plan, including more rangers, humane management of grey squirrels, urgent investment in a squirrelpox vaccine and stronger protection for habitats. The campaign group has also released an interactive map to illustrate the decline.
"This is no longer just about awareness," says Marie Carter-Robb, founder of Save Our Reds. "More than 77,000 people are now backing a clear, deliverable plan to prevent the loss of England's red squirrels. We already have the tools - legal protection, habitat policy, emerging science. What is missing is enforcement, coordination, and urgency. If we don't act now, we are choosing decline.”
Researchers at the Moredun Research Institute have developed a potential squirrelpox vaccine, but progress has stalled because of funding gaps. The Animal and Plant Health Agency is also researching an oral contraceptive for grey squirrels as a humane alternative to culling, although the project is still at an early trial stage.
Where do red squirrels live in the UK?
Some red squirrel strongholds remain, including the Scottish Highlands, where grey squirrels are absent north of the fault line, and small protected island populations on the Isle of Wight, Anglesey and Brownsea Island in Dorset. Kielder Forest in Northumberland is home to half of England’s population of red squirrels. The presence of pine martens, which prey heavily on grey squirrels, may also be helping red squirrels there.
What next for red squirrels?
To support red squirrels and raise awareness of its petition, the first Save Our Reds Day will be held on 15 May, to coincide with Endangered Species Day.
Meanwhile, the Red Squirrel Recovery Network has received £4.86 million of National Lottery Funding to help protect and conserve the red squirrel population in the north of England and southern Scotland. The five-year initiative will involve managing the grey squirrel population, including fertility-control trials; establishing nesting boxes and cameras; erecting tree guards and fencing; monitoring numbers; researching the effect of pine martens; and providing training and equipment to support groups and volunteers.
Maria Hodson
