For an update on the UKSA oral contraceptive research, a focus on grey squirrel bark stripping, achievements by the Red Squirrels United programme, a look at recent research on pine marten recovery in Northern Ireland and more click here.
Adapting to Change in the Isle of Wight.
Squirrels, squirrels and more squirrels…all red of course.
FAQs about grey squirrel Fertility Control Research click here.
For a Pre-COVID update read more.
Covid-19 update re UK Squirrel Accord – 26.03.2020
At this difficult time we wish everyone the best possible health and hope you are taking care of yourselves and each other.
In line with Government guidance regarding the Covid-19 virus, we are all working from home. While some activities can still be carried out online and remotely, there are others that will be affected. We are currently working to assess, reorganise and plan, and are keeping a close eye on developments.
Once we have assessed the facts and probable outcomes as best we can we will update you on the effects of the pandemic on our work. We hope to be able to do so with some degree of confidence in May, but will need to be flexible with the ever-changing situation.
Thank you again for your continued support.
An update from RSST
To read the latest news from the North of England click here.
To find our what is happening in Mid Wales click here.
Read about the Vincent Wildlife Trust’s Pine Marten Recovery Project.
For an update on what is happening in Grasmere click here.
Jersey red squirrel disease surveillance scheme – up date October 2018
The JSPCA Animals’ Shelter are very pleased to announce the publication of a paper on the health of Jersey’s red squirrel population in a professional veterinary journal, The Veterinary Record. This report is the culmination of 7 years of research carried out by former JSPCA Veterinary Surgeon, Tiffany Blackett, on deceased squirrels that came into the JSPCA during this period. The work was partly funded by grants from the Jersey Ecology Trust Fund, the Jersey Countryside Enhancement Scheme, Howard David Farm Trust and donations from kind benefactors. Tiffany is passionate about red squirrels and is dedicated to the continuation of the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter red squirrel disease surveillance scheme which she presently operates in a voluntary capacity.
This important work aimed to establish the cause of death and incidence of specific diseases in a total of 337 dead squirrels.
The results showed that 50.7% of squirrels examined post-mortem died as a result of road traffic injuries, 34.4% died from disease, 6.5% from trauma such as that associated with falls or entrapment, 7.1% died as a result of being attacked (by cats, dogs and birds including crows and magpies) and 1.2% died from suspected poisoning.
This work also highlighted that in the Jersey red squirrels that were examined in this study, there was no identification of the presence of squirrelpox virus. Squirrelpox virus is carried by the larger, non-native grey squirrels found in the UK and is usually fatal in reds. The most common disease processes identified in this study were a parasitic infection caused by a nematode worm that affects the liver, amyloidosis (abnormal protein deposits that build up in various organs and tissues) and a condition called Fatal Exudative Dermatitis (a bacterial skin infection).
Whilst it is estimated that there are currently only about 500 red squirrels on the island, a separate study in 2013 showed that in-breeding in the Jersey squirrels was not associated with the incidence of general disease or cases of amyloidosis.
The JSPCA is proud to have supported this study and continues to assist this vital, on-going research into the health of Jersey’s red squirrel population.