THEY’RE GONE!!! ALL GONE!!! 
Further to my post this morning about a pox outbreak at beautiful Rutter Falls, Jim has informed me with great regret that the population of our gorgeous native red squirrels have been wiped out thanks to the non-native invasive grey squirrels 
Jim had been working closely with Gary one of the rangers from the Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group in recent weeks after greys were spotted nearby.
We can only surmise that the reds and greys have crossed paths. And as a result the Squirrel Pox Virus that greys carry and spread (but are immune to themselves) has got into this healthy happy population of red cuties.
And now THEY’VE BEEN WIPED OUT in just a couple of weeks!!!!
Needless to say, everyone involved are devastated.
I’m personally rather bloody angry too!!!
The other day BBC Earth shared a promo video about grey squirrels on Facebook
It’s factually incorrect in places too!!! For example they suggest greys seek and bury acorns and trees grow. WRONG!! Greys pick acorns before the seed is ripened and so trees won’t blinking grow!
Once again, just like Winterwatch recently the BBC Earth feature chooses to IGNORE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!
They fail to inform viewers that grey squirrels are one of the most invasive species on the planet!
They fail to inform viewers that the non-native greys are classed in UK law as vermin.
They fail to inform viewers the terrible harm greys do to habitats, properties, bird life and more!!
They fail to inform viewers that our native red squirrels once common across the UK have been brought to the edge of extinction in just over a century thanks to the greys and the virus they carry and spread!
I wonder if they’ll happily do such promos for rats, North American mink or parakeets too?
And another reason I’m raging is because only THIS WEEK in my comms with BBC HQ I have to arrange expensive ‘Error and Omissions’ insurance for ‘Cumbrian Red’
It’s to protect mine and their bums from factual errors.
Hmmmmm…..funny that given stuff of late eh!!
Facts matter!
Science matters!
Conservation matters!
Being informed, educated and enlightened matters!!!
I’m sorry to rant. But I really am upset and angry. I’m extremely frustrated too
It really pees me off the ignorance out there about such conservation matters. I get mortified when I see online Springwatch style groups on here DELIBERATELY BLOCK users from sharing FACTS about greys and the harm they cause.
I get mortified when I see groups of armchair experts suggest there’s a conspiracy going on about greys and the scientists, conservationists etc are wrong! What the hell?!
Do they suggest the same about other invasive flora and fauna???? You go figure.
Red squirrels are legally protected. Are a national favourite species and iconic.
Why aren’t more folk such as Springwatch, BBC Earth, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts et al doing ANYTHING TO INFORM the wider public???
It’s astonishing.
Anyway….I’m really bloody upset for Jim and most of all the beautiful Rutter Reds
Rest in peace little ones. You’ll be sorely missed by locals and visitors
Further to my post this morning about a pox outbreak at beautiful Rutter Falls, Jim has informed me with great regret that the population of our gorgeous native red squirrels have been wiped out thanks to the non-native invasive grey squirrels Jim had been working closely with Gary one of the rangers from the Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group in recent weeks after greys were spotted nearby.
We can only surmise that the reds and greys have crossed paths. And as a result the Squirrel Pox Virus that greys carry and spread (but are immune to themselves) has got into this healthy happy population of red cuties.
And now THEY’VE BEEN WIPED OUT in just a couple of weeks!!!!
Needless to say, everyone involved are devastated.
I’m personally rather bloody angry too!!!
The other day BBC Earth shared a promo video about grey squirrels on Facebook
It’s factually incorrect in places too!!!
For example they suggest greys seek and bury acorns and trees grow. WRONG!! Greys pick acorns before the seed is ripened and so trees won’t blinking grow! 
Once again, just like Winterwatch recently the BBC Earth feature chooses to IGNORE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!
They fail to inform viewers that grey squirrels are one of the most invasive species on the planet! They fail to inform viewers that the non-native greys are classed in UK law as vermin. They fail to inform viewers the terrible harm greys do to habitats, properties, bird life and more!! They fail to inform viewers that our native red squirrels once common across the UK have been brought to the edge of extinction in just over a century thanks to the greys and the virus they carry and spread! I wonder if they’ll happily do such promos for rats, North American mink or parakeets too?
And another reason I’m raging is because only THIS WEEK in my comms with BBC HQ I have to arrange expensive ‘Error and Omissions’ insurance for ‘Cumbrian Red’
It’s to protect mine and their bums from factual errors.
Hmmmmm…..funny that given stuff of late eh!!
Facts matter! Science matters! Conservation matters! Being informed, educated and enlightened matters!!!
I’m sorry to rant. But I really am upset and angry. I’m extremely frustrated too
It really pees me off the ignorance out there about such conservation matters. I get mortified when I see online Springwatch style groups on here DELIBERATELY BLOCK users from sharing FACTS about greys and the harm they cause.
I get mortified when I see groups of armchair experts suggest there’s a conspiracy going on about greys and the scientists, conservationists etc are wrong! What the hell?!
Do they suggest the same about other invasive flora and fauna???? You go figure.
Red squirrels are legally protected. Are a national favourite species and iconic.
Why aren’t more folk such as Springwatch, BBC Earth, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts et al doing ANYTHING TO INFORM the wider public???
It’s astonishing.
Anyway….I’m really bloody upset for Jim and most of all the beautiful Rutter Reds
Rest in peace little ones. You’ll be sorely missed by locals and visitors
