THOUSANDS of grey squirrels in Scotland will be trapped and killed under new plans drawn up by Scottish Natural Heritage.
The agency revealed details yesterday of a scheme aimed at protecting native red squirrels from the spread of their American grey cousins.
Under the plans, which will cost more than £1 million, trappers will target the animals in specific location
s around Aberdeen, in the Borders and along a line from Angus to Argyll.
Scotland is home to 75 per cent of the UK's remaining red squirrels, which are at risk of extinction because of an influx of greys.
Grey squirrels, introduced to the UK from America in the 19th century, carry a disease that is deadly to the reds but leaves the greys unharmed. They are also larger, meaning they out-compete for food and replace the reds within 15 years even if they do not carry the disease.
The SNH plans, launched in a public consultation, were criticised by animal rights group Advocates for Animals.
However, SNH bosses say the tactics, which would see the animals either shot or clubbed to death, could offer the last hope of saving the reds.
Ron Macdonald, head of policy and advice at SNH, said: "The spread of grey squirrels in Scotland must be halted if we are to save the native red squirrel from extinction.
"While complete eradication of greys is clearly not feasible at this stage, this strategy seeks to target grey squirrel control at areas where it would most benefit red squirrels."
Squirrelpox has as yet only been found in the south of Scotland, and Mr Macdonald said it was crucial to prevent the disease spreading further north.
The plans have been drawn up by Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels, a partnership of Scottish Wildlife Trust, SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland and the landowners' group Scottish Rural Property and Business Association.
In North-east Scotland, efforts will focus on the rivers Dee and Don, to push the greys back towards Aberdeen and prevent them spreading into the as-yet grey-free north-west. Trapping will also take place in Aberdeen.
There will also be grey squirrel control along a line from Angus to Argyll, which – apart from an area around Aberdeen – currently forms the northern limit of the species.
And in south Scotland every effort will be made to kill greys to stop their deadly pox spreading further into the country.
The project is due to be fully in place by March next year, and will be evaluated in April 2012.
If it does not work, Mr Macdonald said red squirrels could only be saved by isolating them on islands off Scotland, or by creating a method of sterilising the greys.
He said he had "every sympathy" with the views of people who were against killing grey squirrels.
"We have got to respect other people's value judgements," he said. "But I believe we cannot afford to wait for a chemical contraceptive because by then we might not have any red squirrels left."
Ross Minett, campaigns director for Advocates for Animals, said it was "totally wrong" to attempt to save red squirrels by "slaughtering thousands of grey squirrels".
"What we want is a real and achievable long-term solution to saving red squirrels, through effective habitat management and development of a squirrelpox vaccine," he said.
The consultation will close on 1 September.
The full article contains 567 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
