THE PROBLEM WITH THE US INVADER

Greys compete more strongly for habitat and food relative to our native and endangered red squirrel. If they locate the food the red squirrel has cached for winter, they will steal it – leaving the red squirrel to starve

Grey squirrels carry the squirrel pox virus, which is deadly to the rare red squirrel. Currently there is no vaccine

A percentage of grey squirrels also carry ticks that can host the Borrelia species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease. A bite from an infected tick can be responsible for the transmission to humans

Greys can raid songbirds’ nests to predate on eggs and nestlings

The damage they inflict on trees can significantly degrade timber quality in commercial woodlands

It is estimated that grey squirrels cost the British economy around £14 million per annum (Defra)

They cause significant damage to historic and ancient woodlands and forests

The scale of the problem should not be underestimated. Greys have colonised 90% of England and Wales