Grey Squirrel Cull Poll!

[mh68]

Hi Kerry, usually theyre too far gone for treatment. The disease kills them within a fortnight or so, so its pretty fast acting.I`m busy looking for info about the virus online so if I come across any examples of Reds being treated for parapox i`ll post the details.

Mark H

[mh68]

Kerry, this is the most detailed page i`ve found so far on the virus, which may be of interest to you.....

parapoxvirus

Mark H

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by mh68

Hi Kerry, usually theyre too far gone for treatment. The disease kills them within a fortnight or so, so its pretty fast acting.I`m busy looking for info about the virus online so if I come across any examples of Reds being treated for parapox i`ll post the details.

Mark H

Hi Mark

Thanks for that link. It mentions that it is a similar virus to orf that affects sheep. Sheep are susceptible to orf when their is a copper deficiency and it would be interesting to know if there is any info with regards to the squirrels being located in known copper deficient areas. Also does their diet make them more likely to suffer from copper deficiency. Some plants are known to be high in copper but copper is known to be inhibited if the ph is either too low or too high. Also to much zinc suppresses copper. Has there been any research on the mineral content of their diet or the mineral content/ph level of the land on which they tend to live?

The reason I was interested as to whether any treatment has been tried is that Vitamin C in high doses is very good at helping an animal or human overcome viral disease and I wonder if alternative approaches such as this had been tried.

Kerry

[mh68]

Hi Kerry. Your questions are a bit beyond my knowledge of the subject I`m afraid so i`ll have to try and find out for you.I would assume though, that the points you raised will have been considered at some point,although I havent heard of any treatments being put into practice so far.I know Newcastle University are involved with the local Reds so its possible such testing has been undertaken already. I`ll get back to you on this when I find out a little more from those involved with the Reds up here.Hopefully i`ll have an answer for you in the next day or so.....

Mark H

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by mh68

Hi Kerry. Your questions are a bit beyond my knowledge of the subject I`m afraid so i`ll have to try and find out for you.I would assume though, that the points you raised will have been considered at some point,although I havent heard of any treatments being put into practice so far.I know Newcastle University are involved with the local Reds so its possible such testing has been undertaken already. I`ll get back to you on this when I find out a little more from those involved with the Reds up here.Hopefully i`ll have an answer for you in the next day or so.....

Mark H

Thanks Mark. Often though an issue isn't looked at from an holistic approach and issues such as the effect of mineral deficiency on disease are overlooked.

Kerry

[mh68]

Yes youre right Kerry.I`ve emailed your points and questions to a friend involved with the Red Squirrel studies locally so i should have a reply of some kind for you soon

Mark H

[richardkm]

I don't support a cull, I believe they should be totally eradicated from the UK!

[FoxySquirrel]

Originally Posted by mh68

A few points....

While the current strain of Reds may well comprise those of mainly Scandinavian origin,as a species the Red Squirrel is considered native to the UK.

The parapox virus has been around for approaching 30yrs with no sign of Reds developing an immunity.

While Greys may find coniferous habitats unsuitable and fail to properly establish, they may still pass through these areas, with the risk of passing on the parapox virus to any existing Reds.

Do a search on Google for images of Reds with the parapox virus - if you find this an acceptable way for an animal to die then why be against non-native species being killed quickly and humanely to save a native species?

Mark H

This assumption that the red squirrel is native falls down because there is absolutely no fossil evidence to prove that the red squirrel has been around since the last Ice Age.

And anyway because our current red squirrel population derives from Scandinavia and the continent ie they lack the white tail,this means that they are of mixed origin as most of the people are on this island.

As i said historically the red squirrels have always been susceptible to disease
and i dare say if there wasn't a parapox virus(its not an acceptable way to die but still preferable to extermination) they'd be suffering from something else.

[FoxySquirrel]

Originally Posted by richardkm

I don't support a cull, I believe they should be totally eradicated from the UK!

Bravo,that echoes a rather unsavoury sentiment from 1930's Germany.

[mh68]

Originally Posted by FoxySquirrel

This assumption that the red squirrel is native falls down because there is absolutely no fossil evidence to prove that the red squirrel has been around since the last Ice Age.

And anyway because our current red squirrel population derives from Scandinavia and the continent ie they lack the white tail,this means that they are of mixed origin as most of the people are on this island.

As i said historically the red squirrels have always been susceptible to disease
and i dare say if there wasn't a parapox virus(its not an acceptable way to die but still preferable to extermination) they'd be suffering from something else.

So, watching what most authorities regard as a native species die a painful death from parapox, is more preferable in your mind than the quick humane kill of an invasive truly alien species?

Tell me, what are your thoughts on the effects Mink(another non-native) have had on Water Voles and the culling of that species? Should they be left to devastate native wildlife too just because theyre cute and fluffy?

Mark H