The Red Squirrel Project
The red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris has become a priority species within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan on account of its widespread and long-term decline, which continues to accelerate. In Wales it has become confined mostly to a few sites in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire and central Wales, with only sporadic and often unconfirmed reports elsewhere. It is seriously threatened everywhere within this range.
Photo - Kevin CookA number of surveys have been carried out in central Wales. The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) commissioned a preliminary study in 1999 (Matthew & Bevan, 2000). This was mainly a review of available records and an initial assessment of red squirrel habitat. It showed that the red squirrel was still to be found in the 1990s in a number of large forests such as Brechfa, Crychan, Tywi and Irfon as well as in some smaller coniferous parcels north of Carmarthen. The survey also revealed that there had been a significant contraction of range since the 1980s and that this process seemed to be continuing even within forests such as Brechfa where there were fewer and less widespread records in the 1990s.
A further survey was carried out by Dr Sarah Cartmel in the winter and spring of 2001 (Cartmel, 2002). Lines of hair tubes were set up in four forests (Tywi, Irfon, Crychan and Bryn Arau Duon) in the hope of recording red squirrel presence. Habitat assessments were also made for each forest. In the event few signs of red squirrel were discovered: at two locations only within Irfon forest. Grey squirrels (S. carolinensis) on the other hand were widespread and it was feared that they may have dominated the hair tubes and hence the survey could not be considered a true reflection of the abundance or pattern of distribution of the red squirrel within these forests. Management prescriptions for improving the forests for the red squirrel were given as was a recommendation to carry out a programme of grey squirrel control in areas that either had or showed potential to contain red squirrels.
As the above survey proved that a red squirrel population continued to exist, it was decided that there was a need to review the suitability of the forests of central Wales for the species. This study was commissioned by CCW and funded jointly by them, Carmarthenshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership, and Ceredigion County Council and was carried out by Dr Sarah Cartmel (Cartmel, 2003). The review was undertaken in the light of forest design plans and the reality of long-term forestry operations over the next 50 years and concentrated on Tywi, Irfon and Crychan forests. It demonstrated that while suitable habitat would continue to exist it would become increasingly fragmented and if inappropriate broadleaf plantings were introduced the balance could be tipped in favour of grey squirrels. The study indicated what modifications to forestry plans and practice needed to be made to conserve red squirrel habitat in these areas.
A red squirrel group was set up in 2002, largely under the auspices of the Carmarthenshire LBAP Partnership. A number of organisations and individuals are represented at meetings where a widespread enthusiasm to conserve the remaining red squirrels in the area has been evident. Red squirrel conservation has been actively pursued by woodland managers at Bryn Arau Duon since 2002.
DNA analysis on a red squirrel killed on the road near the Sugar Loaf (near Glyn Saer, Crychan North Forest) revealed a previously unknown haplotype and demonstrated a kinship with populations on Anglesey and a more remote similarity with animals on the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands (as opposed to those in northern England and Scotland). In the interests of maintaining genetic health and diversity, it is desirable to maintain as many populations as possible. In the future it may be possible to exchange animals that are ‘surplus’ to an area (isolation and fragmentation preventing a natural expansion outwards) in order to improve the strength of each population. This gives added importance to the conservation of the species in central Wales.
Following Sarah Cartmel’s habitat review (Cartmel, 2003) discussions have taken place with forestry managers, both public and private, about how to adapt forest operations to promote red squirrel conservation. On all sides a willingness to adopt her suggestions, where this is possible, has been shown.
Discussions took place on the proposal to carry out a trapping programme in order to gain more information about the occurrence of red squirrels and to control greys. It was hoped that this project would result in much better information than could be gained by the hair tube survey. The area of focus has been Tywi, Irfon and Crychan North forests where it is considered that the successful conservation of the red squirrel could be best achieved. It is felt that it is less realistic to “defend” the species within Brechfa forest, Crychan South and other smaller woodlands. Tywi, Irfon and Crychan North forests are large, covering several thousand hectares, are fairly isolated and have only a limited component of broadleaved species within them. There is therefore a better than usual possibility of defending these areas against grey squirrels (particularly in Tywi). This core area lies within the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys and this pilot project was conducted with more or less equal effort in all three. It is hoped that this successful trapping programme will be continued into the future subsumed perhaps within the landscape-scale project proposed by CCW East Area.
Report summary for phase one:
The principal aim of this project was to establish the presence of the red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris within Tywi, Irfon and Crychan North forests, situated in mid Wales.
A programme of live capture trapping was conducted in five study sites within these forests.
Red squirrels were found to be present in Tywi Forest, where a total of 14 individual red squirrels were captured within the study sites Fannog and Nant yr Hwch. A total of 31 red squirrel captures (including recaptures) were made in these sites. Hair follicle samples were taken from each red squirrel for genetic analysis.
No red squirrels were captured in Irfon Forest or Crychan North Forest.
Red squirrel hair samples collected during trapping sessions undertaken outside the project area in Bryn Arau Duon Forest were donated to the project for genetic analysis. A total of 16 individual red squirrels were captured in the forest.
Results from genetic analysis of the red squirrel samples suggest that the red squirrels in mid Wales are of Welsh lineage. The level of genetic variation observed in the mid Wales red squirrels, along with the presence of a haplotype unique to mid Wales, identifies this population as important in the conservation of red squirrels in Wales.
Grey squirrel S. carolinensis control was performed in all survey sites. A total of 43 grey squirrels were captured and humanely despatched during the course of the project.
Blood samples taken from grey squirrels were analysed for parapox virus. A high proportion of the grey squirrels captured in the Irfon study site had been infected with this virus; in the other four sites, approximately 50% of grey squirrels captured had been infected.
Recommendations for suitable habitat management and grey squirrel control for red squirrel conservation are given.
Summary of phase two:
The aim of the project was to gather additional evidence of the presence of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in Tywi Forest. This followed the success of the first phase of the project when 14 red squirrels were caught in 2005 in Y Fannog and Nant yr Hwch on the eastern side of Llyn Brianne and a further 16 red squirrels were caught outside the project area in Bryn Arau Duon to the south-west of Tywi Forest.
A programme of live capture trapping was conducted in three study sites in Tywi Forest; Llyn Du and Moel Prysgau in north Tywi Forest and Dalar Wen on the western side of Llyn Brianne.
Trapping was carried out for a total of 30 days over three sessions. The Llyn Du site was trapped on two separate occasions and Dalar Wen for one session. One site in Moel Prysgau was included in the second Llyn Du session.
Red squirrels were confirmed as present in north Tywi Forest, where a total of two red squirrels were captured in the Llyn Du study sites. Hair follicle samples were taken from each red squirrel for genetic analysis.
No red squirrels were captured in Dalar Wen and Moel Prysgau.
Grey squirrels (S. carolinensis) were captured in all study sites. Forty-five grey squirrels were caught and despatched and blood samples were taken from a sample to determine the presence of squirrel pox virus.
Results from genetic analysis of the red squirrel samples suggest that the red squirrels in mid Wales are of Welsh lineage. The level of genetic variation observed in the mid Wales red squirrels, along with the presence of a haplotype unique to mid Wales, identifies this population as important in the conservation of red squirrels in Wales.
For further information on the Red Squirrel Project Please contact:
Dr. Lizzie Wilberforce
Wildlife Trust Officer
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
07970 780553