Action plan to reduce grey squirrels ruled too expensive

Council officers have rejected plans to curb Perthshire’s grey squirrel population.

Proposals to use a leading pest control firm to target the animals have been deemed too costly, while an alternative, cheaper plan to use volunteers to trap greys in their gardens and on public land has also been ruled out.

A bid to reduce the grey squirrel population within six areas in and around Perth, Crieff, Blairgowrie and Alyth was discussed in March last year.

It was hoped the move would help protect the region’s red squirrel population, which has been declining in recent years.

In a report to the council’s environment committee, community greenspace team leader Andy Clegg said that greys posed a threat to reds by “competing with them for food and habitat resources”.

He said: “In areas where red and grey squirrels coexist, the presence of grey squirrels results in reduced survival rates amongst red squirrel young, and also reduced reproductive rates, causing the gradual decline in red squirrel populations over time.”

Mr Clegg added: “It is noted that targeted grey squirrel control is not the sole solution and should be considered along with other measures.

“These include habitat management.”

He said that it would cost £16,830 a year to employ a pest controller to trap grey squirrels.

There was no money in the environment service budget to pay for this.

Tomorrow, councillors will be asked to continue monitoring squirrel populations and to keep managing habitats to encourage red squirrels, while discouraging grey ones.