A full version of this article appears in the magazine.

 

The red squirrel in Wales is under real threat. Significant populations now only occur within three locations – Anglesey, Clocaenog Forest (North Wales) and mid Wales, and despite work being undertaken in all three areas, the squirrel’s future is by no means secure. Loss and fragmentation of its adopted habitat in conifer plantations, unsympathetic forestry operations, and lethal competition from grey squirrels, mean that this is a critical time for the species in Wales. Unless decisive action is taken today, we may lose all our Welsh red squirrels.

 

The Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project

Five years ago the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project (MWRSP) was set up to respond to the challenge. Its members include Carmarthenshire, Powys and Ceredigion County Councils, Forestry Commission Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, Wildlife Trusts and private forest managers.

 

The first task was to demonstrate the presence of red squirrels in the mid Wales forests through live-capture trapping. A second objective was to control greys in the study areas to reduce competition and improve the chance of catching reds. Squirrel-pox virus analysis could then be undertaken within the grey population.

 

During two survey, 32 reds (from three sites) and 121 greys (from all sites) were trapped. Reds caught were free from visible signs of disease and included animals in breeding weight, juveniles and a pregnant female, all positive signs of a currently actively breeding population.

 

DNA analysis revealed that red squirrels in mid Wales are likely have a solely Welsh lineage and have been less influenced than other British populations by the introduction of European red squirrels to the UK in the nineteenth century.

 

Squirrel-pox virus was found in between 50 and 90% of greys. Worryingly, greys were found to be breeding in one of the most remote survey sites in the north of Tywi forest, some distance from broadleaved woodland.

 

Are we too late?

The situation is critical. The red squirrel partnership wants Tywi forest be designated a Red Squirrel Reserve with red squirrel conservation as one of its primary management objectives.

 

WAG, the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales should adopt a policy for grey squirrel control and provide the resources to eradicate greys from red squirrel areas. A policy has been adopted in England but it is disappointing that feet appear to be dragging in Wales.

 

Recently it has been argued that red squirrels can only effectively be conserved on islands and that is uneconomical to continue with conservation effort elsewhere. The MWRSP believes that, given the isolated nature of Tywi forest, a ‘terrestrial island’ can be created

 

Every species lost is like the dimming of a light in a room; your eyes adjust to it and you get used to it but the quality of your experience diminished. The solution for red squirrels is there but are we bold enough to adopt it?

 

Isabel Macho is Biodiversity officer for Carmarthenshire and a member of the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project