Grey squirrels carry a squirrel pox virus that they've become immune to but is usually lethal to the red squirrels that catch it. British children grew up reading Beatrix Potter books featuring red squirrels as characters, and Prince Charles has taken a personal interest in the preservation efforts. Right now, the three million grey squirrels in the country outnumber the reds by roughly 25 to 1. By virtue of their much larger size, grey squirrels out-compete reds for food in areas where they still co-exist. Haw says this work will give Britain's red squirrels a fighting chance to return to their storied place in the British landscape.

Source: CBC News August 29, 2021 15:00 UTC