Ireland to protect red squirrels from grey peril

Yahoo News 18 Nov 07;

Ireland's red squirrels, which are threat from their more aggressive grey British cousins, are to be thrown a lifeline under a plan published Sunday by the environment ministry.

The red squirrel is one of the most threatened mammals in Ireland but the collaborative rescue plan involving the authorities in both the Republic and British-ruled Northern Ireland is an effort to reverse the decline.

Measures to conserve the reds will include rope bridges in their areas and forestry better suited to reds than greys.

Translocation projects will move reds to areas where there is less competition from greys and officials are reviewing international research on immuno-contraception as a means of controlling greys.

"The red squirrel is one of our most iconic and beautiful species and this plan gives details of the actions we need to undertake to ensure that this beautiful animal remains a viable part of our biodiversity," said Green Party Environment Minister John Gormley.

Recent survey work has shown that the species is declining at about one percent a year mainly as a result of competition from grey squirrels introduced from Britain less than 100 years ago.

There are now only 40,000 pairs of red squirrels in Ireland.