Squirrel Awareness month

I was surprised to read at the weekend that October is Squirrel Awareness Month.

We have two types of squirrel in the UK. The native Red Squirrel found mostly in the North- West of England, in Scotland and on a few islands and its North American Grey cousins, introduced into this country between the late 19th century to the early 21st century. Around 1930s people began to become worried about the ecological impacts of the introduction, but by this time the species was well established. They are extremely adaptable, both in habitat and food, and so have been able to fill ecological environments unsuitable for the Red Squirrel. In areas where the two species occurred, there is the additional problem that Grey Squirrels can carry the squirrel pox virus without any problems, but which is lethal to Red Squirrels.