Not On Our Patch

It's out 6th Wedding anniversary today. Full of happy memories, and now one unhappy memory. Sitting having an afternoon cuppa, watching 'The View', we were gobsmacked to see a Grey Squirrel hoping towards the garden. (Picture courtesy of Penrith Red Squirrels Group )

As volunteers with Penrith Red Squirrels, Grey control in this area is partly our responsibilty, so to find one on our own doorstep is really frustrating. This is the second siting in the village in the last month. Attempts to catch the culprit on the first occasion were in vain, so at least it has returned to give us another opportunity.
If any of you think this is harsh - then think again.
This information is lifted from the Penrith Red Squirrels Website:

The facts
There are only about 20,000 red squirrels left in England, mostly in Cumbria and Northumberland.

There are over 3 MILLION greys!

The decline of reds is directly attributable to grey squirrels which were introduced from America in 1876 and whose population has exploded.

The bigger grey out competes red squirrels for food but more critically a large number carry the highly infectious Squirrelpox Virus (SQPV) to which they seem immune but is fatal to reds.

SQPV is similar to myxomatosis in rabbits (although not linked) and is identified in the initial stages by poor coordination and lethargy. By the second week lesions around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals quickly followed by a pitiful death. (see the photo ).