Squirrelpox spreads further in Scotland

Tests carried out on grey squirrels in the past week have revealed that the squirrelpox virus, the disease deadly to red squirrels but harmless to greys, has been found on the Queensberry Estate north of Dumfries. 

Analysis carried out by scientists at The Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh found squirrelpox infected grey squirrels at three sites on the Queensberry Estate.  Grey squirrels are routinely sent for testing as part of a control and monitoring programme. 

“This is worrying news,” said Miles Barne, Chairman of the European Squirrel Initiative (ESI).  “It is vital that squirrel control efforts are focused in this area, squirrelpox infected greys can speed up the decline of red squirrels by up to twenty times”. 

The first reported case in Scotland of a red squirrel infected with squirrelpox was just over a year ago at Lockerbie.  Two grey squirrel control officers were appointed to contain the spread of infected greys.  The Queensberry Estate is over twenty miles from Lockerbie and the discovery of infected greys will be seen as a major blow to red squirrel conservation in Scotland. 

Drumlanrig Castle, 18 miles north of Dumfries and on the Queensberry Estate, has long been seen as a red squirrel stronghold. Visitors can see squirrels in the woods around the castle or through one of the special squirrel cams.

Mark Coombs Estate Manger at Drumlanrig says “This news is absolutely devastating.  Our red population has been safe so far. Our estate game keepers have been controlling the grey squirrels with a robust policy of eradication to try save this iconic native species from extinction in the wild.”

The population of greys at Drumlanrig has been growing. Estate keepers estimate that the population has at least doubled in a year.  So far over 50 greys have been killed.  It was a recent batch of blood samples that confirmed the sero-positive results. 

“We believe that the grey squirrel moved into the area along the north coast of the Solway from the Lockerbie area.  It is now going to require a major investment and collaboration from the Forestry Commission, SNH and landowners away from the current Lockerbie target area if we are to halt this tide” says Mark, “landowners can’t fight this without help from the public sector.”