Help save red squirrels – volunteer now!
In most of the UK, red squirrels are few and far between. In order to help the effort and increase the number of red squirrels throughout the area, a group has been put together. Red Squirrels United is looking for volunteers to join the effort to bring the red squirrels back into the population.
Red Squirrels United is aimed towards helping the UK’s red squirrels survive in the future. In addition to many other alarming facts, due to an increase in grey squirrels back in the 1950s, the population of red squirrels has since declined. This is mainly due to the territorial ground they have to hold in order to get homes and food for their families. Another big factor for why there are only a few red squirrels left in the area is the squirrel pox virus. It is a virus to which grey squirrels are immune, but they can spread the virus to other squirrels. This then leaves the red squirrels vulnerable, and many of them do not make it.
What does being a red squirrel volunteer mean?
Those who sign up to be volunteers with Red Squirrels Untied will monitor the habitats of these squirrels. The habitats are located along Merseyside, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Northumberland. Anyone, of any age, is welcome to volunteer their time and efforts. Children will also be able to learn more about the squirrels in the area and the drive to extinction that is endangering the red squirrels. There are many sec-tions to consider when it comes to volunteering and you are welcome to join any of them when you enlist.
How to going about culling grey squirrels
Those who volunteer may also learn how to trap and exterminate the grey squirrels in the area. While it seems harsh, it is necessary to control the grey population, while allowing the red squirrels to increase their numbers. Many of our volunteers choose to not participate in this type of work and that is okay. It is the decision of each volunteer whether to be a part of this portion of our work. Those who choose to assist in this area do so under the strictest of guidelines for humanely trapping and disposal. Animal welfare is of the utmost importance to our group. No one is happy about the position, but it is something that must be done to allow red squirrels to thrive.
Other efforts in different areas showed promising results in the past. Red Squirrels United is hoping to have the same sort of results with their efforts. While, there are activists fighting our efforts, something more must be done to cease the demise of the red squirrel. The grey squirrel was brought over to the UK by humans, and in order to control the population and keep all squirrel species in existence, the numbers of the grey squirrel must be decreased. We have no choice. This allows for a better habitat in which one and all might live and thrive in the area.
