|
PONTELAND SOS is a local volunteer group set up to help maintain and increase the population of RED SQUIRRELS in the Ponteland and Darras Hall area. Our aim is to make Ponteland and Darras Hall a safe haven for Red Squirrels. We believe we can do this with the help of Ponteland and Darras Hall residents.
We are very lucky to be able to share our gardens with red squirrels. Our survey, carried out earlier this year, showed that we still have a good number of red squirrels across the breadth of Darras Hall, in and around the Golf Course in Ponteland and at the Police Headquarters. We have also had several young spotted too! However, it is also clear that numbers have declined sharply in recent years and much work is to be done if Ponteland and Darras hall residents are going to continue to enjoy sharing their gardens with these beautiful creatures in the future.
Unfortunately a number of Grey Squirrels have also been sighted in the area. This is disastrous news for RED SQUIRRELS, as not only do Greys carry the deadly Squirrel Pox virus, but they also take over Red Squirrel habitats and their already scarce natural food.
Why are Grey Squirrels such a
Threat to Reds?
Unfortunately, Red and Grey Squirrels cannot live in harmony. Grey Squirrels are competing with the Reds for habitat and food. As prolific breeders, they have spread across the UK at an alarming rate. Grey Squirrels have over run the Countryside and parks across mainland England and have over recent years begun to take over the last stronghold of the English Red – the North East and West. Greys are twice as big as reds, more robust and have a much stronger digestive system – in other words, like rats, they can, and will, eat anything! The natural habitat of the Red is in decline and their natural food source is scarce. Above all Grey Squirrels carry a disease called SQUIRREL POX VIRUS – although harmless to Greys, it causes an almost immediate and horrific death for Reds.
Urban Red Squirrels!
Do you know how lucky we are?
We all know how rare the British Red Squirrel has become. The main threat is, of course, the grey squirrel, but human-beings are also a great threat too! We alone are responsible for the blatant destruction of habitat, the careless, but all too regular road-kills and, above all, complacency.
Urban Red Squirrels are very rare. In fact, Ponteland and Darras Hall are one of the few urban areas in Northumberland to share their habitat with Red Squirrels.
But, this habitat is constantly under-threat and we are the only ones who can protect our urban red squirrels from extinction.
How can we do this?
It’s simple really! By following a few basic rules, we, as a community, could make a difference:
1. Drive carefully – road-kill amounts for many red squirrel deaths. Unfortunately, Red Squirrels, cute though they are, have absolutely no road sense! Therefore, they rely on us to drive carefully to avoid their sometimes erratic behaviour on our roads!
2. Our gardens are a Red Squirrel Sanctuary! If you have trees, especially pine trees, please don’t cut them down! Obviously, trees need to be managed and sometimes felling is necessary, but replacing a felled tree in another more suitable part of your garden will not only help our red squirrels, but also the environment.
3. Feeding – Red Squirrels often starve to death, due to lack of suitable food. Therefore, supplementary feeding is essential in urban areas; please contact us for a copy of our feeding guidelines.
4. Grey Squirrels – are the biggest threat to the continued existence of the Red Squirrel. Therefore, is it essential for us to discourage Grey Squirrels from populating our area. You can help by reporting any sighting to us as soon as possible. Remember, Grey Squirrels can carry the deadly Squirrel Pox Virus!
|
