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The Anglesey red squirrel population
survived because grey squirrels did not become firmly established
until the 1980's. By the 1990's red squirrels were in steep decline
and by 1998 confined to Pentraeth conifer plantation (c. 200 ha).
The objective has been initially to clear grey squirrels from Pentraeth
and then, as far as possible, from the rest of the island. Today,
grey squirrels have successfully been cleared from Pentraeth Forest
and Newborough Forest (c. 750 ha, see above) and from large parts
of Anglesey's broad-leaved woods. The main method is systematic live
trapping of grey squirrels followed by humane dispatch. The project
will also benefit trees and breeding woodland bird populations, for
both of which there is good evidence of damage by grey squirrels.
This is a major project involving the co-operation of many landowners.
Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are now restricted to a handful of
sites in Wales. The Anglesey Red Squirrel Project was established
in 1998 to protect and conserve a population of this rare animal. |
Objectives:
1) to save from extinction the remnant population of red squirrels
at Pentraeth Forest on Anglesey through a programme of grey squirrel
control
2) to allow the red squirrel population to re-colonise old haunts
on the island.
The red squirrels are monitored constantly and existing habitat is
improved. A red squirrel reintroduction project was established in
Newborough Forest in 2003 and has successfully bred red squirrels
in enclosures, which have been released into the forest. The new population
is now breeding in the wild.
Project partners: Anglesey Red Squirrel Project Committee, the Wales
Squirrel Forum. |
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