Grey squirrels, introduced from America, have run amok amongst the UK’s natives, much like American crayfish, American ruddy ducks and American GIs.
While their numbers soar, red squirrel populations plummet, our native species unable to cope with the grey’s appetite. They also have no defence against the disease the grey carries.
Numbers of several woodland birds are also dropping and have been doing so for some time. However, populations of some species are also shrinking in other parts of Europe where grey squirrels are not found. A study by the RSPB and BTO found that only two bird species of 33 studied - the hawfinch and lesser-spotted woodpecker - were declining where grey squirrel numbers were highest. Lack of woodland management, the earlier appearance of insects in spring because of climate change and problems on migration are all possible causes of the woodland bird declines but at the moment we can only speculate on which are most likely. Where red squirrels can be helped, we support action to reduce the numbers of greys but, unlike Robin Page in the Daily Telegraph, we do not think this will help woodland birds. Improving woodland management is the priority to reverse the widespread loss of nesting and feeding sites for these birds.
Read Robin Page’s article here