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Anglesey: Captured grey squirrel may have taken train to island of reds (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 1 year ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/nature@feddit.uk

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A grey squirrel which may have ridden a train to the home of Wales' largest red squirrel population has been captured, following fears it could have killed off the local species.

The animal was spotted by a member of the public on Anglesey in mid-February who reported it to Red Squirrels Trust Wales after weeks on the loose.

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[–] DaCrazyJamez@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Huh. I have a fairly healthy population of both (north american) Grey and Red squirrels living in my backyard, and they seem to cohabitate just fine. Granted, the enviroment here in the midwest USA may be quite different from there.

I just never saw either species seem to have any problems thriving. The biggest challenge here (aside from automobiles) is red-tail hawks.

[–] Kim@feddit.uk 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The red squirrels we have in the UK (Sciurus vulgaris) are a completely different species to the red squirrels I think you're referring to (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

[–] DaCrazyJamez@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, I think you're correct. Though they do look very similar.

[–] GreyShuck@feddit.uk 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Presumably squirrel-pox is not prevalent around you.

Unfortunately it is in the UK and as a result red squirrels are now extinct in the majority of the country. They are just hanging on in a few isolated (literally in the case on Anglesey) strongholds where grey squirrels are not present.

[–] DaCrazyJamez@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Oh man, thats aweful. I guess Im glad to have the several families of the little critters trying to steal seed from my birdfeeder...