Red squirrels facing a new pox threat in Louth
FEARS DEADLY VIRUS WILL SWEEP THROUGH COUNTY
RED SQUIRRELS in Louth are facing a new threat to their survival in the shape of a deadly virus which is carried by grey squirrels.
2011 is the centenary of the arrival in Ireland of the grey squirrel and since its introduction it has been out-competing its red cousin and steadily pushing it out of its habitat.
The more robust grey has a more varied diet and can eat acorns before they are ripe enough to attract the fussier red, but its threat as a carrier of the deadly squirrel pox virus (SQPV) is even more extreme than simple competition. The first case of a red squirrel with SQPV has been found recently in the republic.
The forests of the Cooley Mountains are one of the strongholds of the red squirrel and Action for Biodiversity in Louth, a project funded by the European Union's INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme is calling on the people of Louth to be the eyes and ears of the National Parks and Wildlife Service as they monitor the potential spread of this lethal disease.
Abby Mcsherry project officer with Action for Biodiversity in Louth said: 'People have more spare time at Christmas, a walk in the country is high on many families' agendas and although a sick animal may not be a pleasant find, we are asking that if anyone does sight a sick squirrel or even find a dead animal that they make a note (taking a photo if possible) and email the details through to natureconservation@environ.ie or let the Action for Biodiversity project know by ringing 048 30313121.
'Although there are no records of SQPV infecting humans, members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead squirrels."'
'We are also interested in mapping sightings of healthy squirrels as a way of measuring their population, and the Cooley red squirrels are unique in that they are often a very pale reddish colour,' Abby continued,
Squirrel Pox is already a problem in some areas of the north of Ireland and as wildlife knows no boundaries, the Cooley Squirrels in the border area could be very vulnerable. Red squirrels with SQPV develop myxamatosis like symptoms of sores around the eyes and mouth and it is universally fatal, while the grey squirrel suffers few or no symptoms.
The spread of non-native species (often called an alien invasive) to a country where they would not naturally be found often causes huge problems to the native biodiversity and in the case of the grey squirrel may cause the extinction of the red squirrel.
