Why are there no red squirrels near me anymore?

Grey squirrels have pushed them out. Greys are twice the size, better at surviving winters, and carry squirrelpox virus which kills red squirrels within ten to fourteen days. Red squirrels now only survive in Scotland, a few islands, and isolated northern pockets where grey numbers are actively controlled.

Can we get rid of grey squirrels in the UK?

Not realistically. They breed twice a year with up to six young per litter and bounce back quickly even when trapped or shot. Local control can protect red squirrel areas, but it requires constant effort—stop for a year or two and greys flood back in.

What is squirrelpox and why does it only kill red squirrels?

Squirrelpox is a virus that grey squirrels carry without getting sick, but it's lethal to reds. When red squirrels catch it, they typically die within ten to fourteen days, and it spreads through red populations like wildfire wherever the two species meet.

Meet the Wild Locals

The Grey Squirrel Problem: When an American Import Owns Every Woodland Edge

Grey squirrels arrived in Britain in 1876 and have spent the last century and a half making red squirrels extinct across most of England. They're heavier, more aggressive, carry a virus that doesn't affect them, and they've turned every lowland wood into contested territory.

30 August 20267 min read