A grey squirrel has been spotted for the first time in the Highlands, which is a red squirrel "stronghold". It's not much of a problem on its own, and I'm sure it will be culled fairly quickly, but there is a small chance it could have spread the squirrel pox virus before it can be got rid of.

It is thought to have got there by hitch hiking on the back of a lorry carrying small bales of hay. It's not great news although hopefully this is just a one off. It shows how difficult it is to keep grey squirrels completely out of an area though.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/high...364769.stm

The other side of the argument:
1. Climate change, and deforestation for agriculture, industry and housing have resulted in loss of habitat suitable for Red Squirrels
2. Changes in tree species planted in recent years have favoured greys, with significant red squirrel habitat disappearing
3. Grey Squirrels don't chase Red Squirrels away. It is simply a gradual ecological replacement due to Greys being more adaptable. Plenty of evidence shows the two species living together for significant periods.
4. In addition, humans have persecuted Red Squirrels as pests for many years, driving them to near extinction
5. Red Squirrels, like Grey Squirrels before, have been affected by Parapoxvirus. Grey Squirrels who survived showed immunity, and the same immunity is now being seen in some Red Squirrels
6. Habitat pressures are making life hard for Red Squirrels, so disease, like SQPV, is harder for them to fight. They are certainly not fat and healthy.

Rob Atkinson, the head of wildlife science at the RSPCA, said: "It's ethically dubious killing one species for the sake of another.

"Up until the 1970s you could get a licence to kill red squirrels, so they were the baddies then, now it's grey squirrels. Apart from all that it doesn't work. There's absolutely no point in doing it."

Blaming people doesn't get you anywhere in concern with saving red squirrels, grey squirrels are a huge part of the problem, and I know people are at fault for them being there in the first place but people are just iiots in most respects, especially back then. Blaming people will do nothing, end of, and there is hardly going to be a cull of people.

Well, what about rats in concern with saving people, thats "ethically dubious".