Monday, January 18, 2010

Red and Grey squirrels?

Why are there more grey than red squirrels in England and Wales but more red in Scotland?





Thanks XDRed and Grey squirrels?
red squirrels are more at risk due to environment changes than grey squirrels


i think that the dutch elm disease didn't help their plight as it took away alot of their food source





urban myth: grey squirrels don't kill red onesRed and Grey squirrels?
Because the Grey were stronger than the red %26amp; attacked %26amp; killed the greys
Ther was cullings of the grey squirrels not sure why...I think!






Silly billy,reds eat acorns and pine nuts,not elm trees.



The greys ( imported from U.S.A. ) are a much larger animal and prolific breeders who have taken over the habitat of the reds. They also carry a disease which kills reds but to which they are immune. They were first introduced in the south so it's just a matter of time before they populate Scotland. There is a culling programme going on in Kielder Forrest in Northumberland which, to date has effectively protected the reds.
The red squirrel is native to Britain, the greys were introduced from America. The greys carry a virus which is often fatal to reds, so when they come into contact it is harmful for the red squirrels. Red squirrels prefer conifers, particularly pine trees, while greys are less choosy about their environment and can survive in many types of woodland. The reds cannot compete as well as the greys for food. Scotland and northern England have more pine woodland than the south, so the reds still survive there, but numbers are falling.





Red squirrels can be found on the Isle of Wight and on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour.
The Greys are non-native to the British Isles, the red squirrels are and the reds used to be everywhere.





The Greys in the 20th Century were accidently released into England and they spread throughout our island, wiping out the reds as they are stronger and spread a disease which kills the reds.





The reason why the reds are more prevalent in Scotland than elsewhere is simply because the greys havent spread there yet, but also the Grey's dislike the pine forests which are much more prevalent in Scotland than in England/Wales whereas the Red's love the pine forests and live there quite happily.

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