Friday, January 13, 2012

Red Squirrels

We were all watching the news the other day and a bit about a sighing of an ill Red Squirrel came on. A man spotted the squirrel dying due to the invasive Gray Squirrel. When the Gray Squirrel were introduced foreign  diseases came along too, the Gray Squirrels are immune to these diseases, but the Red Squirrels are not.

Ireland is very green but some deforestation has been in effect, most of the woodland in Ireland are in small patches throughout the country. The Red Squirrels spend most of their time in trees, the invasive Gray Squirrels are larger and are more dominant and are able to feed on nuts and fruits before they are ripe (Red's are not able to). So the Red's either come to death by disease or by low food supply.

The economy in the UK is having a hard times, so the funding for saving endangered species is being depleted. Some conservationist don't know if it is best to try and repopulate the Red Squirrels or to kill off the Grey's.

Either way the Red Squirrels are in much danger, and the environment may be at mercy if the specie goes extinct.

Tuk 

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