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First confirmed case of squirrelpox virus in red squirrel in Scotland |
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Written by RSWT
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Friday, 18 May 2007 |
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Responding to the news released today by Scottish Natural Heritage, that the first case of a squirrelpox virus in a red squirrel in Scotland has been confirmed, Stuart Brooks, Head of Conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) said: “Over the last 80 years, red squirrel populations have declined at an alarming rate
and news that the deadly squirrelpox virus has been found for the first time in a red squirrel in Scotland is potentially devastating for the future of our only native squirrel. Scotland is home to 75% of the UK’s red squirrel population and it was only a matter of time before this virus was discovered in a red squirrel. It is now time to step up activities to prevent this virus from penetrating red squirrel strongholds and the Scottish Wildlife Trust will do everything it can to help implement the Red Squirrel Action Plan recently produced by SNH and the Forestry Commission. We also urge the new Scottish government to take this issue seriously and invest the necessary resources to conserve what is one of our most iconic species.”
Grey squirrels arriving from North America in the late 1800s, continue to be very successful competitors. This non-native species out-competes the red squirrel for food due to its larger appetite, more efficient digestion, higher juvenile survival rate and much greater living densities. Greys carry and spread, but are not susceptible to, squirrelpox virus. This virus kills red squirrels within 15 days of infection and populations plummet 25-times faster than red squirrels in competition with non-infected greys. Positive squirrelpox blood samples in grey squirrel have been found in 53 cases in Dumfries and Galloway and 27 in the Scottish Borders. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 18 May 2007 )
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