Red Squirrels Winning Battle for Survival

by Christina 123 | October 15, 2008 at 02:45 pm

1791 views | 31 Recommendations | 30 comments

RED squirrels threatened by deadly squirrel pox, are showing signs of developing antibodies to the disease, it has been revealed. This is encouraging news for the red squirrel population of the UK, on the verge of extinction after being introduced to the plague by disease-bearing grey squirrel invaders. There are relatively few red squirrels left in the UK.

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Now that red squirrels have been shown to be capable of having a natural resistance to the virus, scientists want to carry out research to find out how widespread the immunity is. They would hope that, just as some rabbits developed immunity to myxomatosis and avoided being wiped out, a pool of red squirrels will survive.

Alternatively, if resistance remains limited to a tiny proportion of the population, researchers expect to be able to develop a vaccine within a decade.

Dr Sainsbury added: “Immunity to the squirrelpox virus should give red squirrels a fighting chance against the grey invaders, without which red squirrels would undoubtedly be destined to lose the battle for survival in the UK.”

Red squirrels have disappeared from most of England and Wales, though they cling on in isolated pockets such as the Isle of Wight and Brownsea Island. There are estimated to be 140,000 left in Britain with most of them in Scotland and Northern Ireland – fewer than 15,000 are in England and 3,000 in Wales – compared with 2.5 million greys.

Red squirrels could be developing an immunity against a deadly virus which is threatening to wipe them out.
Eight of the animals have been found with antibodies to squirrel pox.
Instead of succumbing to the disease, they had fought it off and died of different causes, post-mortem tests revealed.

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Amy Judd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:50 on October 15th, 2008

Christina 123, great news - love the red squirrels!

Christina 123

at 14:53 on October 15th, 2008

Thanks Amy! Remember cute little Tufty? Or Squirrel Nutkin?

Amy Judd

at 14:55 on October 15th, 2008

Squirrel Nutkin! So cute!

rpshen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:55 on October 15th, 2008

Christina 123, I like this story. It's good stuff. That's great news!

Christina 123

at 15:09 on October 15th, 2008

Thanks, rpshen!. Nice to report good news for a change.

JeffHuang

at 15:32 on October 15th, 2008

Darwin would be happy as they are exemplifying his notion of surival of the fittest

jessica.lam

at 16:31 on October 15th, 2008

definitely good to know that they're making a come back.

Todd Gunderson

at 18:05 on October 15th, 2008

This little fellow was photoed in the Olympic National Forest, WA on a hike in the Hoh Rainforest - April 2008. We watched it demolish cone after cone, I actually took a series of this little feast. If you would like more, let me know, happy to share.

Todd Gunderson has contributed a photo to this story.

felt_tip_felon

at 00:17 on October 16th, 2008

finally a "good news" wildlife story - these are very beautiful creatures.

felt_tip_felon has contributed a photo to this story.

Denise Swanson

at 02:13 on October 16th, 2008

Red Squirrels are such characters, very curious and also friendly. They will often come over to investigate and show little fear of people. Formby on Merseyside, is a protected haven for these delightful creatures.

Denise Swanson has contributed a photo to this story.

Ribonucleic

at 05:16 on October 16th, 2008

Photograph taken in the United Kingdom: the English Lake District, the Keswick Railway Footpath.

Ribonucleic has contributed a photo to this story.

precinct 25

at 08:30 on October 16th, 2008

This little fella was spotted in the just neear the edge of Derwentwater in the Lake District, Cumbria UK early September. She seemed to be having a fine old time.

precinct 25 has contributed a photo to this story.

RSyourstruly2095

at 09:32 on October 16th, 2008

Photographed in Gosforth Park Nature Reserve, Newcastle, England, UK. The park is run by The Natural History Society, based at the Hancock Museum in Newcastle City Centre. They are well aware of the decline of these beautiful creatures, and are carefully monitoring the current population with the help of other members, by asking them to record and log any sightings in the reserve before leaving.

RSyourstruly2095 has contributed a photo to this story.

dyke_philip

at 09:41 on October 16th, 2008

Taken in Northumberland 5 miles from wallington house, they have had problems with squirrel pox and had stopped feeding the squirrels near hide to stop them congregating.
july 2008

dyke_philip has contributed a photo to this story.

Lisby Brown

at 10:03 on October 16th, 2008

This was taken in the woods at Formby a National Trust reserve. Many of the squirrels there were scabby and didn't look to be in very good health.
This photograph is the copyright of Sheena batey

Lisby Brown has contributed a photo to this story.

wanderbri

at 10:11 on October 16th, 2008

Sadly, a very noticable decline in the number of Red Squirrels at Formby Point, Liverpool over the past 12 Months or so. This was the only one we saw having spent 3-4 hours at the Red Squirrel reserve. This time last year we saw around 15 - 20.
A notice there recently said around 28 had been found dead, but that doesn't take into account the ones that may be in dreys or carried away by Foxes.

wanderbri has contributed a photo to this story.

Marshall Drummond BSc.

at 12:49 on October 16th, 2008

Photo by Marshall Drummond BSc.

Marshall Drummond BSc. has contributed a photo to this story.

coffeego

at 13:56 on October 16th, 2008

This is a baby red squirrel that was separated from its mother (who has a nest somewhere in the roof of my apartment) and found its way into our kitchen, where it encountered the cat. Fortunately, it was not injured, and after spending the weekend resting and being kept warm and well-nourished, we were able to reunite it with its anxious mother.

coffeego has contributed a photo to this story.

douglasb1066

at 16:44 on October 16th, 2008

I should say right up front that I'm now doubting my identification of this guy as a red squirrel. It is definitely redder than the other squirrels I got pictures of that morning. However, since I labeled that picture I've had a chance to research the squirrels of Colorado a bit more, and it is actually most likely a Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). It turns out there's three only tree squirrel species in Colorado - Fox, Albert's, and Pine (a.k.a. red squirrel). Pine are smaller than this individual and usually found in more montaine environments. Albert's have very distinct ear tufts, which leaves Fox. The struggles native squirrels everywhere have been having with introduced greys is quite something - it's good to hear the red squirrels are getting something of a break with the pox.

douglasb1066 has contributed a photo to this story.

nikon.nutter

at 00:00 on October 17th, 2008

These shots were taken at Formby Point National Trust Reserve where Squirrel Pox has allready depleted their numbers considerably.

nikon.nutter has contributed a photo to this story.

andymcg7

at 03:17 on October 17th, 2008

Red Squirrel outside the Boat of Garten Osprey Centre.

andymcg7 has contributed a photo to this story.

JJArcher

at 06:18 on October 17th, 2008

Taken in Northumberland UK, still a stronghold for these beautiful animals.

John.

JJArcher has contributed a photo to this story.

aldenchadwick

at 11:02 on October 17th, 2008

This shot was taken in Crathie, Scotland.

aldenchadwick has contributed a photo to this story.

tillytrotter

at 09:48 on October 19th, 2008

came across this red squirrel in the local churchyard where the public feed them daily so they are quite tame.

tillytrotter has contributed a photo to this story.

steveocee

at 10:54 on October 19th, 2008

That is excellent news for my ginger brethren!
I thought the reds in Formby where doing quite well until I read wanderbri's comment. This photo was taken there earlier this year.

steveocee has contributed a photo to this story.

Ann Smarty

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 02:17 on October 20th, 2008

Oh, what great news... and the pictures are just great: those little creatures are so sweet!

Sidsel Oba

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:11 on October 20th, 2008

Christina 123, I like this story. It's good stuff.

This story makes me happy...I love this red squirrels. Before it use to be many here in my town Tønsberg. I remember my grandmother had one climbing up the big tree outside her kitchenwindow ( second flooor ) jumping up on the table for a snack...every day...for a long time....It was so very very nice and cosy. So cute . For the last ten years I've only seen 2 - 3 .

Really I miss this lovely squirrels...