Pesky invaders - 2nd September 2024

 Croeso pawb - welcome

One of the very well established "invaders" or invasive species is the Eastern Grey Squirrel from North America, another Victorian mistake, when in 1876 they were released into Henbury park in Cheshire. There is no clear consensus why they were introduced, maybe just to add a touch of exotic to Henbury Park?

Grey Squirrels are ubiquitous across the UK, and are accused of many environmental crimes including out-competing our native Red Squirrel and spreading the killer Squirrel pox.

My concerns lie with their habitat of stripping bark from deciduous trees especially the young of the year, usually before there are other foods such as acorns or hazel nuts about.

Where they strip one side of a branch is bad enough  but at least the vascular system of  the tree can still keep working, however stripping both sides or "ring barking a limb or sometimes the whole trunk is a death sentence.

This year at our Ynysdawela reserve young Oaks have come under attack as well as the Norway Maple at the reserve hub, so annoying to consider the eventual outcome for the Norway Maple as well as the Oaks.

There is research into a contraceptive for the pesky critters which is under going trials

UKSA-APHA_grey_squirrel_fertility_control_research_update_2023.06.pdf (britishredsquirrel.org)

Whilst the Grey is very much part of the landscape, until natural predation through predators such as the Pine Marten and Goshawk is at an equilibrium, they will continue to have an impact on our natural environment.