Grey squirrel’s sudden arrival causes concern in the north

Unwelcome visitor poses threat to native red species

By Samantha Chetwynd

Published:

FURRY MENACE: A grey squirrel . . . it is hoped that the rogue animal can be trapped and humanely put down

Michael Tyler with the bird feeders in his garden which attracted the grey squirrel. Sandy McCook

What is thought to be the first grey squirrel to be seen in the Highlands has been spotted just outside Inverness.

It is believed the animal may have hitched to the Highland capital on the back of a lorry carrying hay or straw bales.

The greys pose a threat to the native red species, and the sighting near Redwood Court at Milton of Leys has caused some concern among conservationists including the See Red Highland project.

Yesterday members raised concerns about the appearance of the grey squirrel and appealed to residents to look out for it. The rogue squirrel could now be trapped and humanely put down due to the risks it poses.

Ian Collier, of See Red Highland, said: “This is the first grey to be confirmed in the Highlands. A number of people living around the same area have spotted it.

“The main problem having a grey in the Inverness area is that it may be carrying squirrel pox virus, which is fatal to red squirrels, and that it competes for food.

“We don’t think the squirrel would have got there by travelling on its own. We reckon it probably hitched a lift on some kind of transport.”

The area it was found in is close to the A9 Perth-Inverness road.

It is illegal to release grey squirrels into the wild.

Mr Collier said he hoped it was an isolated grey squirrel, but added: “Naturally they are spreading towards the Highlands.”

Strathdon in Aberdeenshire and Blair Atholl in Perthshire have been the nearest the greys have got to the Highlands.

Michael Tyler, of Redwood Court, Milton of Leys, spotted the grey squirrel on a bird table in his back garden.

He said that he often used to feed grey squirrels when he lived in Meriden, near Coventry in the West Midlands.

He said: “They were all grey squirrels down there. We hardly saw any red ones. I hope we never see it again because I don’t like the thought of them destroying it. I do support the red squirrels, but it’s a shame that a grey one may have to be trapped.”

See Red Highland, which was established to help monitor and conserve red squirrels, is backed by several organisations including Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.

SNH head of policy and advice Ron Macdonald said: “It is the first confirmed sighting in the red squirrel stronghold of the Highlands and we would urge people to be vigilant and to report any sightings of grey squirrels.

“The red squirrel is an important and iconic species. It features in the SNH species action framework for conservation action due to the population decline over the past 50 years. Its conservation remains a top priority for SNH and our partners.”