Protectors of grey squirrels endangering reds
Last updated 14:00, Saturday, 17 May 2008
In your article about the campaign group supporting grey squirrels in Cumbria (The Cumberland News, May 9), Elaine Milbourn made some statements which I invite her to support with hard evidence.
Could she please provide evidence that “red squirrels were hunted, and a bounty paid for their tails”?
Could she also provide evidence of taxpayers’ money being spent on grey control?
She says there is “hysteria” about the numbers of reds dying, implying that the disease is not a serious issue in the decline of the red squirrel.
In the past few months we have lost five from the seven or eight reds visiting feeders outside our house to squirrel-pox, a foul, distressing disease.
If that number is being repeated over other parts Cumbria, then anyone can see that we will eventually lose our reds.
Michelle Ruddock quotes habitat as the problem.
I live in perfect red squirrel habitat, with plenty of mature conifers, where a healthy population of reds has thrived for years.
We have the habitat, we have the reds. What we haven’t had, until last year, is the greys.
The disease arrived with the greys, a situation observed and acted upon by many people in other parts of the county.
I encourage other people to support the fight to save our much-loved native red squirrels.
ASHLEY BOON
Chairman, Castle Carrock & Talkin Red Squirrel Group
