GREY squirrels will be trapped, put in sacks and clubbed to death as part of a controversial cull of the animals in the north-east of Scotland.
Aberdeen City Council yesterday became the first local authority in Scotland to declare war on the grey with a trap-and-cull scheme to form a buffer zone on the city's outskirts.
The aim is prevent grey squirrels that have already gained a footho
ld in Aberdeen from spreading further north into the last strongholds of the endangered red squirrel in the Highlands and North-east.
Scottish Natural Heritage has warned that Scotland's estimated population of 121,000 red squirrels could be completely wiped out in 50 to 100 years unless action is taken to combat the spread of the alien greys.
The grey, which is larger and more aggressive than the native red, also carries the squirrel-pox virus which does not affect them but is deadly to red squirrels.
Yesterday, as the first traps were laid in Hazlehead Woods on the outskirts of Aberdeen, animal rights groups condemned the cull as unethical and ineffective.
Ross Minett, director of Advocates for Animals, said:
"It seems one of the main animal welfare precepts is being ignored - that female adults should not be killed during the breeding season, as this is likely to leave dependent young to starve to death, causing unnecessary suffering. In addition, major questions remain over the humaneness of the method of killing.
"We, of course, support efforts to conserve remaining red squirrel populations but surely this must be done in an ethical and humane manner."
The council claims the squirrels will be humanely killed.
Dr Mairi Cole, of the species advisory office at SNH, insisted that while some people are not in favour of killing grey squirrels, culling was necessary if the reds are to be saved.
Ian Talboys, the council's countryside officer, defended the £8,000 red squirrel conservation project: "
It is our responsibility to protect our native species for future generations."
NETWORK OF HIDDEN TRAPS
THE Aberdeen trap-and-cull scheme involves up to ten cage traps, baited with food which is attractive to grey squirrels, being hidden at ground-level in vegetation and timber away from footpaths, covered with plastic, and then camouflaged with bracken and brushwood.
The cages trap the animals alive and protect them from wet weather and hot sun until the cages are checked.
Red squirrels or other species that are trapped accidentally will be released unharmed.
A city council spokesman said: "It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release grey squirrels once they are trapped."
