Red Squirrels are small charismatic native mammals which depend on a woodland habitat to live , eat and breed. Grey squirrels are non-native and were introduced into Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1911 a pair of grey squirrels is believed to have been given as a gift to a resident of Longford Castle, Co. Longford, from where they quickly escaped. When the greys arrive in an area of woodland the resident red squirrels usually disappear within 5 to 15 years.
No one is sure exactly how this happens but it is believed that he grey can out-compete the reds in accessing food and that the grey may act as a carrier of the pox virus which does them no harm but will kill a red squirrel within 14 days of infection.
There are many conservation groups active in protecting the native red squirrel because of the threat of extinction in Ireland.
In 1911 a pair of grey squirrels is believed to have been given as a gift to a resident of Longford Castle, Co. Longford, from where they quickly escaped. When the greys arrive in an area of woodland the resident red squirrels usually disappear within 5 to 15 years.
No one is sure exactly how this happens but it is believed that he grey can out-compete the reds in accessing food and that the grey may act as a carrier of the pox virus which does them no harm but will kill a red squirrel within 14 days of infection.
There are many conservation groups active in protecting the native red squirrel because of the threat of extinction in Ireland.
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