News > Squirrel pox confirmed in Ayrshire
Squirrel pox confirmed in Ayrshire
12/12/2011
Conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland has today confirmed that a grey squirrel from Culzean Country Park in Ayrshire has tested positive for the squirrel pox virus (seropositive).
This is the first time the virus has been found to be present in the area and its presence represents a concerning leap to the north.
The discovery of this seropositive animal was made recently by Trust Rangers onsite, working closely with staff from the Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project (RSSS) and has been confirmed by expert testers. The squirrel pox virus is now the single largest threat to red squirrels. The disease is carried by the introduced grey squirrel, but while it is harmless to them, it is lethal to our native red squirrel. Once infected with the virus red squirrels suffer a slow, lingering death dying within approximately 15 days of contracting the virus.
There is no risk to humans from the disease.
National Trust for Scotland nature adviser Mr Lindsay Mackinlay said:
“This is a very worrying development as we had until now hoped that the Southern Uplands, together with the active control of greys by many concerned landowners further south, were acting as a barrier and preventing the further spread of this virus north. However, we now know that there are some other areas in Ayrshire with ‘positive squirrels’, near Mauchline and Stair, suggesting the disease has spread south-westwards from there.
“We are now undertaking further testing at Culzean to see how widespread the virus is and will be working with Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project. We would appeal for other landowners in the area to work with RSSS and attempt to contain the spread. The last thing anyone wants to see is the virus reaching Glasgow.”
“Squirrel pox is playing a major role in reducing the population of red squirrels and we must prevent the further spread of the virus, before it reaches the areas where red squirrels are still well-established.
Deirdre Mackinnon, senior ranger at Culzean Country Park said:
“This is a very sad discovery for Culzean. The park had a population of red squirrels until about 5 years ago, but they have since disappeared totally.”
The National Trust for Scotland plays an important role in conserving many of Scotland’s iconic and threatened species including the red squirrel which can be found at many of its properties from the red squirrel ‘stronghold’ of Brodick Country Park on Arran to areas where the species are competing with their grey cousins, such as the Threave estate in Dumfries and Galloway, and Crathes in Aberdeenshire.
The charity recently published its Red Squirrel Conservation Action Plan which highlighted the dangers posed by squirrel pox and the need for grey squirrel control to ensure the survival of red squirrels in the future.
Karen Ramoo Project Coordinator for the Red Squirrels in South Scotland project said:
“This region of south Scotland is particularly crucial to the survival of red squirrels in Scotland and it is paramount we work to contain the spread of these virus carrying grey squirrels from moving northwards preventing the transfer of the virus to red squirrels throughout the Scottish mainland.”
Lindsay Mackinlay continued:
“People are rightfully concerned about the future of polar bears and pandas on this planet, yet what many folk often forget that some of Scotland’s very own species are also in trouble. One of those is the red squirrel.
“A lot of organisations and landowners are deeply concerned about the future of red squirrels in Scotland and are working hard to save the species. It seems only right that the National Trust for Scotland also continues to work hard to conserve one of our most iconic mammals. We find it shocking that there is a very real possibility that we may not see these delightful animals at places like Killiecrankie or Mar Lodge in the future. The plan we published in October sets out what we’re prepared to do to help red squirrels in Scotland. We hope the public will support us in this work.”
The discovery of this seropositive animal was made recently by Trust Rangers onsite, working closely with staff from the Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project (RSSS) and has been confirmed by expert testers. The squirrel pox virus is now the single largest threat to red squirrels. The disease is carried by the introduced grey squirrel, but while it is harmless to them, it is lethal to our native red squirrel. Once infected with the virus red squirrels suffer a slow, lingering death dying within approximately 15 days of contracting the virus.
There is no risk to humans from the disease.
National Trust for Scotland nature adviser Mr Lindsay Mackinlay said:
“This is a very worrying development as we had until now hoped that the Southern Uplands, together with the active control of greys by many concerned landowners further south, were acting as a barrier and preventing the further spread of this virus north. However, we now know that there are some other areas in Ayrshire with ‘positive squirrels’, near Mauchline and Stair, suggesting the disease has spread south-westwards from there.
“We are now undertaking further testing at Culzean to see how widespread the virus is and will be working with Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project. We would appeal for other landowners in the area to work with RSSS and attempt to contain the spread. The last thing anyone wants to see is the virus reaching Glasgow.”
“Squirrel pox is playing a major role in reducing the population of red squirrels and we must prevent the further spread of the virus, before it reaches the areas where red squirrels are still well-established.
Deirdre Mackinnon, senior ranger at Culzean Country Park said:
“This is a very sad discovery for Culzean. The park had a population of red squirrels until about 5 years ago, but they have since disappeared totally.”
The National Trust for Scotland plays an important role in conserving many of Scotland’s iconic and threatened species including the red squirrel which can be found at many of its properties from the red squirrel ‘stronghold’ of Brodick Country Park on Arran to areas where the species are competing with their grey cousins, such as the Threave estate in Dumfries and Galloway, and Crathes in Aberdeenshire.
The charity recently published its Red Squirrel Conservation Action Plan which highlighted the dangers posed by squirrel pox and the need for grey squirrel control to ensure the survival of red squirrels in the future.
Karen Ramoo Project Coordinator for the Red Squirrels in South Scotland project said:
“This region of south Scotland is particularly crucial to the survival of red squirrels in Scotland and it is paramount we work to contain the spread of these virus carrying grey squirrels from moving northwards preventing the transfer of the virus to red squirrels throughout the Scottish mainland.”
Lindsay Mackinlay continued:
“People are rightfully concerned about the future of polar bears and pandas on this planet, yet what many folk often forget that some of Scotland’s very own species are also in trouble. One of those is the red squirrel.
“A lot of organisations and landowners are deeply concerned about the future of red squirrels in Scotland and are working hard to save the species. It seems only right that the National Trust for Scotland also continues to work hard to conserve one of our most iconic mammals. We find it shocking that there is a very real possibility that we may not see these delightful animals at places like Killiecrankie or Mar Lodge in the future. The plan we published in October sets out what we’re prepared to do to help red squirrels in Scotland. We hope the public will support us in this work.”
