Battle of the Red and the Grey

Hello friends,

No, I didn’t stop writing or disappear from the earth. We just had a work trip quickly followed by a long vacation, followed by an obligatory case of Covid from traveling. But we’re back and I have a story for you from Scotland. I hope you like it…

People seem to have strong opinions about grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Either they are adored because they are cute and clever, or hated because of their gluttony and destructive nature. Troublemakers. Either way, grey squirrels are part of our natural ecosystem in the eastern U.S. They fill their rightful niche here.

In the British Isles, however, grey squirrels are unwelcome interlopers who are wreaking havoc with the native population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). On a recent trip there, we learned the larger grey squirrels were introduced to England in the 1890s by the 11^th Duke of Bedford, Herbrand Russell. Subsequent introductions by others followed. It was before we learned that introductions of non-native plants and animals are almost always a terrible idea. Alas, the grey squirrels thrived and now outnumber their smaller red cousins at nearly 17:1.

The unfortunate circumstance for the red squirrel is that grey squirrels carry squirrel pox. It doesn’t affect the greys but is deadly to reds. In the U.S., squirrels are preyed on by hawks, weasels, raccoons, bobcats, foxes, cats, snakes, owls, dogs, eagles, and probably more predators. In the U.K., predators are limited to weasels (stoats), goshawks, foxes, cats, and dogs, so there are fewer controlling pressures. 

Grey squirrels have earned a target on their back not only by being disease vectors but also because they damage young trees. The U.K. has undertaken a massive tree planting effort to combat climate change. Greys strip bark from broadleaf trees to get at the sapwood. Though I have seen stripped branches here, especially in late winter, I’ve never seen the kind of behavior or damage I viewed there. I don’t know why the behavior is so aggressive there, but the damage results in stunted, diseased, and even dead trees. The current damage estimate is approximately $48 million in U.S. dollars per year.

A century of culling greys has failed to reduce the population. Despite the damage to trees and red squirrels, there are those in the U.K. who opposed, shall we say, dispatching them outright. They feel it is not the squirrels’ fault they are there, so they shouldn’t die for it. Researchers have worked to find a non-lethal option.

The UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) is testing a contraceptive hidden in a hazelnut spread – irresistible to squirrels. Special traps that allow in only greys and not the lighter-weight reds have been designed to give the invading squirrels a dose of contraceptive. The greys will live out their natural lives, but not procreate. By this means, it is possible to substantially reduce or even remove the unwanted population within 10 years. Once the 2.7 million greys decline, the remaining 160,000 red squirrels can flourish.

There are those who would label grey squirrels as troublemakers here in the U.S. where they belong. But the truth is, the real troublemakers are those humans who choose to import/export/transport non-native plants and animals. No matter whether for pets, hunting, or commerce, non-native introductions have caused the extinction of natives, infestations, and havoc all over the world. Humans are learning, but there is an awful lot of damage around the world to repair.

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Donna H. Black writes articles, fiction, poetry, and more. A horticulturist by training and a writer by choice, she enjoys bringing facts of the natural world to readers. Follow her blog about writing at donnablackwrites.com and find her books on Amazon.com.