Red Squirrel Disease Monitoring Programme:

"Determination of the prevalence of disease in the red squirrel population of Jersey"

The aim of the Red Squirrel Disease Monitoring Project is that it will ultimately improve the care and welfare of the Jersey red squirrel population by researching into the prevalence and significance of disease and infectious disease agents in the red squirrel population on Jersey.  

The JSPCA Animals’ Shelter is embarking upon this study which will improve the care, welfare and conservation of our red squirrel population. The Animals' Shelter is liasing with the States of Jersey Environment Division on this project because the project additionally addresses a number of proposed actions and recommendations outlined in the Jersey’s Red Squirrel Biodiversity Action Plan, including monitoring the Jersey red squirrel population for signs of disease.

Project Objective:

This project will not only act to increase the veterinary knowledge in the field of red squirrel diseases, but will also further provide information of fundamental importance about the distribution and health status of the Jersey red squirrel population, therefore assisting with the conservation and monitoring of this unique population of red squirrels on Jersey, in addition to assisting with the implementation of the States of Jersey Red Squirrel Biodiversity Action Plan.  

Project Rationale:

The squirrel species are within the family Sciuridae.  The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is the only squirrel that is native to Britain and their populations are considered vulnerable, as the distribution of Red Squirrels has been seen to decline drastically over the last 60 years.  Red Squirrels are currently listed as Lower Risk on the 2000 IUCN Red List.

Local naturalists introduced the Red Squirrel to the Island of Jersey in 1885 and this colony has continued to persist in the small woodland areas of Jersey.  In mainland Britain the Red Squirrel has fierce competition from the Grey Squirrel, which was introduced into Britain in the late 19th century and early 20th century.  However, in Jersey, the Red Squirrel population is thriving, especially as there are no Grey Squirrels on the Island; Grey Squirrels can act in competition against the Red Squirrels for habitat and food, but more importantly, the Grey Squirrels can carry a Pox virus without any clinical signs, but the Red Squirrels are very susceptible to infection by this Pox virus which often results in their death.

However, continued monitoring for the presence of disease in the Jersey red squirrels is essential to protect and maintain the health of the population.

Key steps:

The results for this study are to be obtained from tissue analysis from the post mortem examination of carcases of red squirrels.  Therefore, Islanders are being asked to report all sightings of red squirrel casualties to the JSPCA Animals' Shelter reception. This is so that the bodies of squirrels can be collected and post mortem examinations can be performed. 

This disease monitoring programme is planned to occur in phases over an approximate two year period to allow for the collection, processing and assimilation of all of the sample material and its association with other recorded parameters.  Once results have been obtained and analysed, the findings of the study will be published and will be made available to all of the private veterinary surgeries on the Island of Jersey, the States of Jersey Environment Department and other appropriate organisations in Jersey, thereby increasing the potential to improve red squirrel health and conservation.  It is anticipated that the findings of this important study will also be published in the States of Jersey Red Squirrel Biodiversity Action Plan.

The results of this project and knowledge gained from the study will be very helpful with regards future treatment protocols for casualty red squirrels, therefore improving the health care red squirrels receive when presented as wildlife casualties to veterinary surgeries and wildlife rehabilitation centres, in addition to aiding the understanding of disease in the red squirrel, thereby ultimately assisting in their conservation.

Partner Organisations:

- JSPCA Animals’ Shelter  

- States of Jersey Environment Division

- Veterinary Laboratories assisting with the histopathological examination of the samples include:

Sponsors:

However, there is a great need for further funding and financial support.  Anyone interested in contributing to this important programme should contact the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter.

Results so far:

The sample collection for the project commenced in July 2007 and the number of red squirrel carcases that have been sampled to date:  220

Of the number of carcases sampled, approximately 64.5% were casualties as a result of road traffic accidents, 12.3% due to predation/trauma and 23.2% as a result of ill health.

So far from this study, apparent "hot spots" for red squirrel road deaths on Jersey roads are:

Please remember to take care when driving, especially on the country roads and green lanes so as to avoid killing the squirrels. Many members of the public now provide food for squirrels, so if you are feeding them it is important to take care so they are not at risk from road traffic, cats or dogs.

The results received to date from the specialist veterinary histopathological examinations of the sampled tissues are being collated and further information will be available regarding the histopathological findings in the future.

 

Other red squirrel information:

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris):

Habitat:           All types of woodland habitats from pure broadleaf, to mixed broadleaf and conifer, to pure conifer 

Food:              main foods include tree seeds, such as hazel nuts, acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts and seeds from conifer/pine cones, also fruit and fungi from under tree bark

Size:                 17-24cm

Lifespan:          6-7 years in wild, 10 years in captivity

Litter size:        average 3 babies

 

January:

Starvation kills most squirrels.  Some people like to help by putting food out but remember, if you start feeding wild animals they may come to rely on you so you must keep it up through the winter.

February and March:

Squirrels can have an average of 3 babies in a litter.  The female spends the next 2-3 months looking after them.

April:

In Britain, the larger grey squirrel from North America has replaced the red squirrel in most areas where they used to live – except conifer forests.  However, in Jersey, there are only red squirrels.

May and June:

Squirrels have to look out for predators such as owls.  Their speed and agility can get them safely away from most dangers, except cars.  Many squirrels are killed or injured on roads every year.

July:

Timber cutting often destroys squirrel nests (dreys).  In Jersey, if the youngsters fall from the nest or the nest is disturbed or lost, the dependant youngsters are often taken to the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter where they are cared for and eventually released back into the wild.

Red squirrel drey:

August and September:

Hazel nuts and pinecones are stored in small amounts under trees or in holes.  Sometimes other squirrels raid these stores.

October:

Squirrels enjoy eating bark from young trees, if they chew round the trunk of the tree, this will kill the tree (ring barked).  This can make them unpopular with foresters.

November and December:

Red squirrels are not very active in winter.  They spend most of their time in their nest keeping warm.  They rely on their stores of food, if they can find them.

More red squirrel natural history information can be found in the JSPCA red squirrel fact sheet.

 

In Jersey, every year, many casualty baby/juvenile wild animals and birds are presented to the JSPCA Animals' Shelter that require specialist nursing and care.  This often includes a substantial number of baby red squirrels that require specialist care and feeding requirements and rehabilitation before eventual release 'back to the wild' in Jersey.

   

For more pictures of hand reared red squirrels and for tales of some of our many red squirrel hand-rearing success stories, click here.

 

For more stories about red squirrel treatment and release success stories, click here.