gnipper 6,916 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Are they common where any of you are? I'm sat in my car at work and just had one 6ft from my open window with the radio on and one dashed across the road on my way in too. This is only a couple of minutes from my house too. The point I'm making is a year or two ago it was rare to see one and before that I saw quite a few ill ones, are they developing an immunity to the pox they get like rabbits with the myxi virus? Fingers crossed their on a comeback and the greys feck off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moll. 1,793 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I do hope so gnipper. There have been several sightings of grey for the first time in this area and panic has set in. I have been run ragged lately setting/checking traps, meeting people, phone never stops ringing. If people are bothered about saving the reds, if you find one dead would you please send it here... http://saveoursquirrels.org/pge/cms_uploaded_files/cons_sqpv_postingdeadreds.pdf Research and future hope Although a lot remains unknown about SQPV, such as the specific method of transmission between individuals, scientific research and virus surveillance programs are providing answers all the time. A specific virus transmission study is currently working to answer questions regarding SQPV transmission, and could be important in directing how we deal with SQPV outbreaks. Scientists have successfully developed an immuno-contraceptive that sterilises male grey squirrels preventing them from reproducing. However, research is still underway to find a successful system for delivering the immuno-contraceptive to squirrels in the wild. Work has also begun attempting to develop a vaccine to help protect red squirrels from the squirrelpox virus. However, developing a vaccine is only the first hurdle. As has been the case with the immuno-contraceptive work, a potentially harder task will be developing an affective system to inoculate wild red squirrels with the vaccine - how do we get the science to the squirrels? A ‘bait delivery system' (where the drugs are provided in food) is the most likely method for delivering both the immuno-contraceptive to greys and the vaccine to reds. Although this sounds straightforward in theory, it is very difficult to achieve in practice. In developing a bait delivery system, it must be ensured that; i) a squirrel feeding on the bait ingests a high enough dose of the drug, ii) the drug dose not require a booster to remain effective over subsequent years, and iii) the drugs reach a high enough percentage of the population to have an overall net benefit. It may take as long as 10 years before either a vaccine or immuno-contraceptive have been developed to the stage where they can be used to treat wild squirrel populations. In the meantime more traditional conservation methods, such as habitat and population management, are vital in protecting existing red squirrel populations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simoman 110 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Only seen them on Merseyside and in the Cairngorms in the wild, stunning little mammal....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neal 1,930 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I saw a lot of them about twenty years ago when I lived in Coniston but the only time I see them now is when I visit my wife's family in Appleby. One benefit of greys is that you don't have to say, "No!" when the dogs see them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simoman 110 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I saw a lot of them about twenty years ago when I lived in Coniston but the only time I see them now is when I visit my wife's family in Appleby. One benefit of greys is that you don't have to say, "No!" when the dogs see them. Read the hunting act Neal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neal 1,930 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I saw a lot of them about twenty years ago when I lived in Coniston but the only time I see them now is when I visit my wife's family in Appleby. One benefit of greys is that you don't have to say, "No!" when the dogs see them. Read the hunting act Neal You'll have to speak up, I can't hear you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j j m 6,627 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 i love watching the reds,i hate the greys Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Romany 1,065 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Photographing red a few days ago but did see a grey, Gosforth Park near Newcastle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Millet 4,497 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I take the rifle everywhere with me now especially in the area where the grey's are being spotted..and it would make my day and all the resident's if i could shoot the horrible thing's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
byron 1,279 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 no reds this way,,pity.. but plenty of greys..mate of mine breeds a few in captivity.. i find a fen and a bit of peanut butter carried in old paste jar makes an irresistable magnet for them.... sooner the reds can build up a resistance to this pox job the better ,,the old ancient briton needs a little help from his friends.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dogs-n-natives 1,182 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Im trapping greys up in Northumberland, but its hard to keep up with the numbers. Still plenty reds here at present, so were keeping them at bay for now. More funding is coming through in the spring, with more trappers enroled. If anyone has woodland within the red squirrel reserve areas then funding could be available to cull the greys. The more help with this the better, as it only takes a few neglected patches to allow the greys entry into the red squirrel zones. You could drop me a PM for help and info if your unsure about getting started. Regards DnN 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
byron 1,279 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 good on ya DnN.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Baghdadnights 150 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 No reds down this way. There was something on the news just the other day about a captive pair of reds that have bred something like 30 kitts they've been releasing them back to the wild can't remember where it was though. Would love to see reds again until then I'll keep blasting the greys Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craigyboy 1,274 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 theyre making a steady comeback in kirkoswald,nr penrith,ive not seen a grey for yrs now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moll. 1,793 Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 Im trapping greys up in Northumberland, but its hard to keep up with the numbers. Still plenty reds here at present, so were keeping them at bay for now. More funding is coming through in the spring, with more trappers enroled. If anyone has woodland within the red squirrel reserve areas then funding could be available to cull the greys. The more help with this the better, as it only takes a few neglected patches to allow the greys entry into the red squirrel zones. You could drop me a PM for help and info if your unsure about getting started. Regards DnN Been informed by RSNE there is no money available? They have dropped off a few traps but that is all. Whereabouts are you trapping in Northumberland, do you get subsidised to do it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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