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View Full Version : Virus threatening red squirrels..........


El Annie
Monday 10th March 2003, 20:58
An outbreak of a virus deadly to red squirrels is threatening the few remaining colonies in the UK. The disease has been reported for the first time in Sefton, Merseyside, the most southerly mainland population of the species. Red squirrels in this area represent a significant proportion of the UK's declining red squirrel population. Earlier this week one was confirmed as having died from the parapox virus which is capable of devastating red squirrel populations. The disease is carried by grey squirrels without causing them harm but red squirrels have no immunity. Once infected, reds will die within a matter of weeks or even days. Treatment is difficult and rarely successful.
More information - Ananova

Road signs used to protect frogs.....................
Motorists were yesterday urged to give priority to migrating frogs and toads crossing a busy main road on the way to their breeding ground. Stafford Borough Council has put up warnings signs along the road near the Doxey Marshes nature reserve, in the Midlands. It hopes that putting up the red triangle signs featuring a picture of toad will reduce the death toll along a migratory route used for thousands of years.
More information - Scotland on Sunday

From today's conserv@tion - http://www.habitat.org.uk/news1.htm

Annie

:t:

vicky@glos
Monday 10th March 2003, 22:45
Annie,
This sounds like we have no chance of saving the red squirrels unless any are any in captivity and kept away from any possible connections with the grey squirrels.

Does anyone know of any kept in captivity ?, that would if all the wild red squirrels are killed off by this, then we would be able to bread in captivity to save the species.

Sounds like bad news to me.

Keep us posted Annie.

Vicky@glos

BirdWatcher
Tuesday 11th March 2003, 00:52
This is the first I have heard of this topic. I will keep checking back here for further info. Thanks for alerting us!

BirdWatcher

Richard Ford
Tuesday 11th March 2003, 18:25
I would hope that any infection could be stopped from traveling over water, there are no Greys on the Isle of Wight for instance but there are Reds. I certainly hope this can be controlled as the Red is a lovely creature as are greys.

Rich

dylan
Tuesday 11th March 2003, 18:45
I didn't know there were Red Squirrels on the IOW, cheers for the Info Rich & I hope you're right about the virus not getting there.

alan_rymer
Tuesday 11th March 2003, 19:51
Parapox virus
First recognised outbreak East Anglia in the 1980s. Is endemic in Grey Squirrels who appear to have an immunity, Red Squirrels do not appear to be immune.
It is old news and has been re-visited by journalists when ( I imagine ) Parapox was discovered in an area where it has not been identified before.

Do a search on google for more information.

There are colonies of Red Squirrels on the I.O.W. and on Brownsea Island. Grey Squirrels occaisionally turn up and are removed.! I think I read of a case recently!.

My original posting was a bit brusque so I edited it!