The red squirrel population in Cumbria faces a mounting crisis due to the rapid proliferation of grey squirrels, which are breeding at unprecedented rates.
Robert Benson, chair of the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group, described the situation as ‘a knife edge’ and said there’s an urgent need for intervention to protect the iconic species.
"The grey squirrel is now breeding or seems to be breeding all year round," Mr Benson said, adding that warmer winters and plentiful natural food supplies may be contributing factors.
"At worst, they’re having four sets of kids in a 12-month cycle.
“If you take it as read that they’re going to produce four or five young with each breeding cycle, that’s 20 young squirrels from one grey pair a year."
Red squirrels are one of Britain’s most cherished native species, easily recognisable by their striking russet fur and tufty ears.
Once widespread across the UK, their population has declined drastically over the last century, with their habitat now limited to a few isolated strongholds, including parts of Cumbria.
Red squirrels play a vital role in woodland ecosystems, aiding in seed dispersal and the regeneration of forests.
However, their survival is increasingly precarious due to competition from invasive grey squirrels, which have outcompeted them in most of their former range.
Grey squirrels, introduced to the UK from North America in the late 19th century, have rapidly spread across the country, displacing reds in the process.
Their success is attributed to several factors: greys are larger, more adaptable, and capable of consuming a wider range of food, giving them a competitive edge in shared habitats.
They also carry squirrelpox, a virus harmless to greys but deadly to reds, which has devastated native populations.
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The spread of this disease, combined with habitat loss and competition, has made it increasingly difficult for red squirrels to thrive.
The introduction of grey squirrels was initially intended to add to Britain’s wildlife, but their impact has been catastrophic for red squirrels.
Released in areas such as Woburn Park, Bedfordshire, in the 1870s, grey squirrels spread rapidly across England, Wales, and southern Scotland.
Their unchecked expansion has altered the balance of woodland ecosystems, with many conservationists now focusing on controlling grey squirrel populations to safeguard the future of red squirrels
Efforts to curb grey squirrel numbers have included research into fertility control, but progress has been slow.
Mr Benson said: "The people doing that scientific and practical work are now realising that we will not have that as a tool we can use for at least the next five years.”
Moreover, he explained, the proposed fertility drug would only suppress reproduction for a single breeding cycle, offering only a temporary reprieve.
"Meanwhile, those grey squirrels are still doing the damage they do to trees and the red squirrel population," he added.
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Squirrelpox remains one of the most significant threats to the red squirrels.
The challenges are not confined to the Penrith area but affect the entire county and beyond, and numerous red squirrel conservation groups across Cumbria and Northumberland are working tirelessly to protect the species.
However, these groups urgently need more resources.
"We need all the help we can get, both financial and in terms of manpower, to control the grey numbers and give the existing red population the best chance of surviving," Mr Benson said.
Without such support, the outlook for red squirrels is bleak.
"As the red population gets more isolated into little pockets, you will get the beginnings of the reds inbreeding because they haven’t got a big gene pool," he warned.
"Once you get that, the effect is that they won’t breed as well as they would normally."
Despite the daunting challenges, there are efforts underway to find a vaccine against squirrelpox, which could be delivered to the red squirrel population to improve their chances of survival.
Mr Benson said this would be ‘a vital step forward’, but significant hurdles remain before it can be implemented.
"We are desperately fighting," he said.
"All groups need more support in every way, shape, and form, particularly financial support and people joining the groups."
To help protect Cumbria’s red squirrels, residents are encouraged to join their local conservation groups or contribute to ongoing efforts.
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