A collaborative conservation effort between BASC and the Red Squirrels Trust Wales has been extended into Gwynedd.
Following its success in Anglesey – which boasts the largest and most genetically diverse red squirrel population in Wales – plans to extend the scheme have received a lot of support. Anglesey now has a red squirrel population of over 500 recorded animals over a 750 kilometre squared area.
Dr Craig Shuttleworth of the Red Squirrels Trust Wales said: “Working with BASC, we have a unique opportunity to see red squirrels return to woodlands in Bangor and the Ogwen Valley. Anglesey has demonstrated the strong public support that exists for red squirrel conservation and we want to build upon that. The Gwynedd project will help protect Anglesey from the threat of grey squirrel reinvasion as well as creating an important mainland red squirrel population.”
Audrey Watson of BASC said: “Grey squirrel populations threaten to make red squirrels extinct. It is through management projects like this that the contribution to conservation by people who shoot is brought to the fore. Research shows that shooters put in almost three million work days on conservation each year.”
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