More than £1m is to be spent over the next three years on saving
Scotland’s red squirrels and protecting routes into their
northern strongholds, the BBC News website reports. The number
or reds has been in decline since the arrival of the grey
squirrel from North America in the 19th Century. Greys compete
with reds for food and can also carry the squirrel pox virus,
which can kills reds in about 14 days. There are currently about
121,000 red squirrels in Scotland and the country is home to 75%
of the UK’s reds. There are thought to be between 200,000 and
300,000 greys in Scotland. The £1.3m Saving Scotland’s Red
Squirrels (SSRS) project is being launched in Dunkeld,
Perthshire. See a map of shifting red and grey squirrel
territories It will develop habitats in which the red squirrel
can flourish but will also try to control the greys, which will
involve killing them. Environment Minister Mike Russell said:
“The red squirrel is one of our most beautiful and valuable
native species. Therefore its loss would be