Summary
The
red squirrel's range spans northern Europe to Asia, but it is
considered endangered in the United Kingdom. The main problem is that
the Eastern gray squirrel, introduced from North America, has spread
across most of the United Kingdom. Gray squirrels normally outcompete
the reds, and they carry a deadly virus called squirrelpox, which
quickly kills red squirrels. Yet the tide may be turning. The Isle of
Anglesey is now free of grays, thanks to an eradication project that
took 18 years. Some advocates hope that the recovery of the pine marten,
a relative of weasels and badgers that preys on gray squirrels, might
provide long-term relief for the reds. Scientists caution that much
about the pine marten's resurgence and ecological impact remains
unknown. The plight of the United Kingdom's red squirrels is a
cautionary tale: The gray squirrel has colonized part of northwest Italy
and may be poised to invade neighboring countries.
- ↵* in Bangor, U.K.
