Lethal disease threatens rare red squirrel colony
NATIVE red squirrels face being all but wiped out in one of their last British strongholds by a deadly virus.
Squirrelpox, carried by invasive grey squirrels, has destroyed 95 per cent of reds in England and Wales since 1952.
But it had never been seen on Anglesey – until Wednesday, when a dead red squirrel with facial lesions typical of the disease was discovered.
It follows a case of squirrelpox half a mile away in Bangor, leading to concerns the virus has crossed from the mainland.
If squirrelpox is confirmed in this case, it will raise fears for the island’s 700 reds.
Red squirrel expert Dr Craig Shuttle- worth said 75 per cent of Anglesey’s reds could be destroyed. He said: ‘There is a real possibility of the red squirrel becoming extinct on parts of the island.’
Up to 60 per cent of grey squirrels carry squirrelpox. The virus is harmless for the greys, which were introduced to Britain from the US in 1876. But for reds it causes lesions which become lethally infected.
Anglesey is one of just four areas where reds continue to thrive in Britain, along with Scotland, parts of Cumbria and Northumberland and the Isle of Wight.