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Gary Jeff · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

All
Just a note to let you all aware of the increasing wide spread problem.
Greys sighted and killed at following locations

Nr Bolam lake 2 kills
High Angerton sightings
Whorral bank Morpeth 2 kills
Stannington numerous kills
Pauperhaugh Nr Rothbury numerous kills
Doddington Nr Wooler approx 40 per year
Powburn Numerous kills
Netherwitton numerous kills

These are just a small number of reported incidents that I have found out about from Gamekeepers and Farmers there will be hundreds more sightings and kills.
I personnally believe that it has been left too late to save the Reds in certain areas.
If people or organsations are serious about protecting the native red squirrel you need to start involving the following people and organisations NOW !!
Northumberland County council and local councils Write to Mark Henderson Chief executive @ county Hall ask him what is been done about it. Is there a wildlife officer? What are they doing about problem?

National game keepers organsation
Forestry commision
Land owners and Farmers
Defra (funding)
National parks
Ministry of Defence. (large land owner)
Red squirrel protection groups of which there are numerous in Nothumberland.
Northumberland Wildlife groups.
There will be others but a bit more thought will find key players

Suggested strategy;
Appoint organisation to project manage and seek funding, suggestion (Northwoods, cockle park Morpeth)
They will need to be able to;
Bring interested groups together
Source and secure funding from Defra or other sources to provide
Publicity and raise awareness of threat from Greys through out the county
Approach land owners through data base held
Bounties and provision and allocation of grey squirrel live catch traps
Training on use
Bounty on squirrel tails in Nothumberland agreed and publicised
tag nutered and virus free squirrels and track progress in county (If possible)
Log sightings and liasion.
Trap in areas where reds are established to catch Greys moving in to area

These are just my thoughts and pointers, action needs to happen now and quiclky

Nutkin · Joined: 27 Nov 2008 Posts: 4

As long as there are misguided individuals who "inadvertantly" release grey squirrels back into the wild, and those other people who allow them to hide behind a veil of secrecy - the red squirrel is doomed in Northumberland. Sad but true.