The Exmoor Squirrel Project

If you see a squirrel on Exmoor it most likely will be a grey. There are currently no established wild populations of red squirrels on the mainland in the South West. Squirrels change their coats throughout the year, so confusingly grey squirrels sometimes sport ginger patches.

Grey squirrels can look cute, but they pose a threat to red squirrels and raid bird nests, taking eggs and nestlings. Research suggests that greys have played a major role in an 85 per cent decline of spotted flycatchers in the last 50 years and a 57 per cent decline in wood warblers in the 23 years.
Grey squirrels cause considerable damage to broadleaf woods by bark stripping, this action kills or deforms the tree and leads to the destruction of woodland and a loss of timber value. The European Squirrel Initiative has shown that greys cost the forestry industry in excess of £40 million per year through tree damage.

Damage to young plantations will seriously jeopardise efforts to establish new woodlands for nature recovery, natural flood management, carbon sequestration, and sustainable timber production.
Greys are especially concerning due to their specific targeting of oak but they can also damage Beech, Field Maple, Hornbeam, Silver Birch, Sweet Chestnut, Sycamore and Willow, amongst others.

Latest figures show that a hectare of undamaged 150-year-old oak is currently estimated to value at around £54,370 per hectare, compared with a hectare of grey squirrel damaged 150-year-old oak valued at £7140 where squirrels have not been controlled – a difference of £47,230!
What is happening to combat this?
We are working on developing projects to help protect our wildlife and reduce devastation to woodland. In particular, we are working with Red Squirrel South-West (add link) on a project on the north coast of Exmoor, to reduce numbers of grey squirrels in the area. Through monitoring populations and targeted control, we can help restore our biodiversity.

Could the reds return?

Grey squirrel unfortunately carry the squirrel pox virus. They are immune to that particular disease but sadly it’s fatal to reds. Reds and greys do not have to come into direct contact for the virus to spread, red squirrels can contract SQPV through sharing feeders or woodlands that are also used by greys. Grey squirrels also out-compete reds for territory and food making it difficult for reds to survive in grey inhabited areas.
Grey squirrel control projects could help to reduce the prevalence of squirrel pox, regenerate the natural Sessile Oak woodland on our North Coast of Exmoor and theoretically, create an environment conducive to the potential re-introduction of red squirrels.