Red squirrel populations across the United Kingdom have experienced a dramatic decline, dropping from approximately 3.5 million to fewer than 300,000 individuals. The situation is particularly severe in England, where conservation organizations estimate only 15,000 to 39,000 red squirrels remain, with projections suggesting complete extinction within 25 years in certain regions. In contrast, grey squirrel numbers have grown to between 2.5 million and 2.7 million since their arrival in the 19th century.
The competitive threat from grey squirrels stems from their arrival in the United Kingdom following their importation from North America. Historical records indicate that 150 years ago, a Victorian banker named Thomas V. Brocklehurst released a pair of grey squirrels at Henbury Park near Macclesfield in Cheshire after bringing them back from a business trip. The species has since established itself as a dominant ecological competitor.
The inability of red and grey squirrels to coexist stems from multiple factors. Grey squirrels outcompete reds for habitat and food resources, while also transmitting squirrel pox, a fatal disease for red squirrels that causes ulcers and blindness. Additionally, grey squirrels cause approximately £40 million in annual damage to forests, crops, and properties. Conservation experts emphasize that protecting red squirrel populations requires actively reducing grey squirrel numbers.
Current management strategies rely primarily on lethal control methods including shooting and trapping. However, researchers are developing alternative approaches. The Red Squirrel Survival Trust is jointly funding a field trial with the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency to test oral contraceptives delivered to grey squirrels through specially designed hoppers that only they can access due to their larger body weight. If successful, this method could become available to landowners within five years. Additionally, reintroducing native pine martens has shown promise, as these predators effectively target grey squirrels while red squirrels have evolved defensive behaviors against them. Government agencies, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, have committed resources to managing this ongoing conservation challenge.
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