Mass cull of grey squirrels wins minister's backing

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 21:52

SCOTLAND'S environment minister has thrown his weight behind plans to kill thousands of grey squirrels to protect their red cousins from extinction.

Launching an initiative to create a no-go zone for grey squirrels across the south of Scotland, Michael Russell said "humane destruction" of grey squirrels is "absolutely necessary".

Grey squirrels carry a pox that does not harm them but is lethal to the native reds.

As revealed by The Scotsman last month, the initiative by the Red Squirrels in South Scotland project will seek to halt the spread of the squirrelpox virus by creating a buffer zone.

It will rely on landowners and the public to help catch grey squirrels using a trap loan scheme. Thousands of grey squirrels are expected to be humanely killed.

Mr Russell, speaking from the Drumlanrig Estate in Dumfries and Galloway, said: "The red squirrel is one of our most beautiful and valuable native species and Scotland is one of the few sanctuaries it has left.

"Since its arrival in the British Isles, the grey squirrel has gradually taken over with its more aggressive feeding habits, meaning that its red cousin is now endangered.

"To make matters worse, a new threat is heading north in the form of squirrelpox, lethal to the red squirrel and almost endemic in the grey population."

He said squirrelpox is already spreading alarmingly across southern Scotland, and there is only a short time to save the red squirrel from the brink of extinction.

He added: "Humane destruction of grey squirrels is absolutely necessary to make the project's aims a reality. There is simply no alternative."

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser, who has campaigned to help the red squirrel, called for further action to be taken to aid the species in other parts of Scotland.