Rewilding charity helps bolster Scottish stronghold of species that once came close to extinction in UK

Red squirrels have expanded their range across the Highlands by more than a quarter after a 10-year reintroduction programme moved hundreds to new homes.

The species once came close to extinction in Britain when foresters killed them as pests and their natural habitat was destroyed. A deadly virus carried by invasive grey squirrels has hampered their recovery.

Scotland is the red’s heartland, home to 80% of the UK’s population of about 200,000. The reintroduction project, run by the rewilding charity Trees for Life, has established more than a dozen thriving new sites, from Ullapool to Morvern to Lairg.

  • Rothe@piefed.socialEnglish
    7·
    3 months ago

    The species once came close to extinction in Britain when foresters killed them as pests

    It is ridiculous that anyone at any time would seriously consider calling the Eurasian red squirrel a pest.

      • Rothe@piefed.socialEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        I see your point in pure numbers killed, but I actually don’t think it is raising it. Sparrows are herd creatures, living off of basically the same cereal crops as humans, with no problem living in urban environments close to humans. A point could be made, a very bad one mind you, that sparrows are pests who wants to eat our food, if you are an insane and moronic dictator eager to point the blame at someone else for your own failings.

        But the Eurasian red squirrels are mostly solitary and extremely shy creatures, who mostly feeds off of pine cones, and wants as little to do with humans as possible. You are not going to see them invade your home turf and eating your food, unless possibly if you are some kind of nut farmer. But that is obviously not what happened in Scotland.

    • tetris11@feddit.ukEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      I mean, have you met foxes? Yeah they’re cute. And yeah there’s way too many of them in the capital

      • Rothe@piefed.socialEnglish
        2·
        3 months ago

        Your comment reveals your complete lack of understanding about zoology. I am not talking about cuteness. I am talking about actual behaviour. Eurasian red squirels are solitary shy rodents, living mainly off of nuts and seeds. They are very easily scared off by apex predators.

        Foxes are carnivourous hunters. They are completely different.

        • tetris11@feddit.ukEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          (Your comment came across unintentionally mean, here let me rewrite it for you:)

          “Cuteness is one thing, but red squirrels didn’t go around hunting other animals. They merely damaged tree bark which harmed the timber industry, earning them the ire of local landowners.”