Management of grey squirrels

Summary

Since their introduction into Britain between 1876 and the 1920’s, grey squirrels have spread rapidly, gradually displacing the native red squirrel through a combination of competition for food and transmission of the squirrel pox virus. Grey squirrels now occur in most of England and Wales, and in central and south-east Scotland.

Grey squirrels are extremely destructive in woodlands, stripping bark from the main stem and branches of trees. Typically beech and sycamore trees are most severely damaged, however serious damage can occur on a wide range of tree species, including oak, birch, larch, pines and Norway spruce. Bark wounds can result in deformation, stain and decay of the timber and serious wounds can kill the tree. Squirrel damage has now become a serious disincentive to landowners trying to establish new woodland.

Bark stripping damage to trees by grey squirrels

Impact

Bark stripping damage reduces timber quality through staining (due to fungal infection) and structural defects and ultimately reduces timber value and yield. Weakened stems may break and trees that are ring-barked will die from that point up.

Damage varies across sites and between years and is difficult to predict. Thin barked species such as sycamore, beech, oak, sweet chestnut, pine, larch and Norway spruce are most at risk with trees aged between 10 and 40 years being most vulnerable.

Examples

Manufacturers and suppliers of equipment for grey squirrel control

This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect a recommendation from us for a particular supplier or product.

Grey squirrel publications

Forestry Commission publications

Gill, R., Ferryman, M., Shuttleworth, C. Lurz, P., Mill, A., Robertson, P. and Dutton, C. (2019) Controlling Grey squirrels. UK Forestry Standard Technical Note 022.

Bryce, J., Cartmel, S. and Quine, C. P. (2005). Habitat use by red and grey squirrels: results of two recent studies and implications for management ^(PDF-546K) . Forestry Commission Information Note 76. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Mayle, B. A. (2004) Grey squirrel management in woodlands, in Managing woodlands and their mammals (Quine, C., Shore, R. & Trout, R., Eds.): proceedings of a symposium organised jointly by the Mammal Society and the Forestry Commission, 45-49, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Gurnell, J., Lurz, P.W.W., Pepper, H. (2001) Practical techniques for surveying and monitoring squirrels ^(PDF-3830K) , Forestry Commission Practice Note 11, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Pepper, H., Bryce, J., Cartmel, S. (2001), Squirrel management: 2. Co-existence of red squirrels and grey squirrels, in Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 1999-2000. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Pepper, H., Moore, H. (2001) Squirrel management: 1. Development of a contraceptive vaccine for the grey squirrel, in Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 1999-2000. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Pepper, H., Patterson, G. (2001) Red squirrel conservation ^(PDF-250K) , Forestry Commission Practice Note 5 (revised). Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Pepper, H. (1998) Nearest neighbour method for quantifying wildlife damage to trees in woodland ^(PDF-139K) , Forestry Commission Practice Note 1. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Other publications

Gill^, R., Massei, G., Pinkham^, R., Beatham, S., Whitelaw^, B., McNicol, C. (2021) Grey Squirrel Control Research – what new approaches may we anticipate for the future? Quarterly Journal of Forestry, Jan 2022

McNicol, C., Bavin, D., Goodwin, C. Silk, M., Macpherson, J., Gill, R., Ferryman, M., Bearhop, S., McDonald, R. (2019) Translocated native pine martens Martes martes affect space use by invasive non-native grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis. J. Applied Ecology. 57(5) DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13598

McNicol, C.M., Bavin, D., Bearhop, S., Bridges, J., Croose, L., Gill, R., Goodwin, C., Lewis, J., Macpherson, J., Padfield, D., Schofield, H., Silk, M., Tomlinson, A., & McDonald, R. (2020) Post-release movement and habitat selection of translocated pine martens Martes martes  Ecology and Evolution DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6265

Shuttleworth, C. and Gill, R. (2019) Red squirrel bark-stripping of hornbeam in North Wales. Quarterly Journal of Forestry.

Inward, D., Reed, K., Gill, R. (2019) Chapter 3. Pest threats to UK Oak health. In: Quine, C.P., Atkinson, N., Denman, S., Desprez-Loustau, M-L., Jackson, R., Kirby, K. (eds) 2019. Action Oak Knowledge review: an assessment of the current evidence on oak health in the UK, identification of evidence gaps and prioritisation of research needs. Action Oak and Forest Research, Farnham, UK

Shuttleworth, C., Bertolino, S.,Gill, R., Gurnell, J., Hayward, M.,Kenward, R., Lawton, C., Lurz, P., McInnes, C., Mill, A., Trotter, S., Wauters, L. (2019) Releasing Grey Squirrels into the wild. Vet. Record. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.l1270.

Stringer AP, MacPherson J, Carter S, Gill R, Ambrose-Oji B, Wilson R, Kelsall P, Feirn WG, Galbraith LC, Hilário CM, Parry G & Taylor A. (2018)  The feasibility of reintroducing pine martens (Martes martes) to the Forest of Dean and lower Wye Valley.  Gloucester Wildlife Trust, May 2018. 107 pages.

Dunn, M., Marzano, M. Forster, J., Gill R.M.A. (2018) Public attitudes towards “pest” management: perceptions on squirrel management strategies in the UK.. Biological Conservation 222, 52-63.

Nichols, C.P.,  N. G. Gregory, N. Goode,  R. M. A. Gill,  J. A. Drewe. (2018) Regulation of bone mineral density in the grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis: Bioavailability of calcium oxalate, and implicationsfor bark stripping. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr. 2018;102:330–336.   https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12740

Nichols, C.P., Gregory, N.G., Goode, N., Gill, R.M.A., and Drewe, J.A.(2017) Can the grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, utilise calcium oxalate? – Implications for bark stripping behaviour Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12740

Nichols, C.P. and Gill, R.M.A. (2016) Bark stripping behaviour by the grey squirrel,Sciurus carolinensis. Chapter 19 in: Shuttleworth, C. and Gurnell, J. (Eds) The Grey Squirrel. The European Squirrel Initiative.532p

Nichols, C.P., Gill, R.M.A., Drewe, J.A. Goode, N. Gregory, N. (2016) A novel causal mechanism for grey squirrel bark stripping: The Calcium hypothesis. Forest Ecology and Management. 367 12-20.

Mayle, B., Ferryman, M., Peace, A., Yoder, C., Miller, L., Cowan, D., (2013) The use of DiazaCon™ to limit fertility by reducing serum cholesterol in female grey squirrels, Sciurus carolinensis. Pest Management Science 69, 414-424.

Mayle, B.A. and Broome, A. (2013) Changes in the impact and control of an invasive alien, the grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, as determined from regional surveys. Pest Management Science, 69, 323-333.

Willoughby, I., Jinks, R.L., Morgan, G.M., Pepper, H., Budd, J. and Mayle, B.M. (2011). The use of repellents to reduce predation of tree seed by wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus L.) and grey squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin) . European Journal of Forest Research. 130, 4, 601-611.

Yoder, C. A., Mayle, B.A., Furculow, C.A., Cowan, D,P. & Fagerstone, K.A. (2011). Feeding of grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) with the contraceptive agent DiazaCon: effect on cholesterol, hematology, and blood chemistry. Integrative Zoology 6: 409-419.

Mayle, B. A., Proudfoot, J., Poole, J. (2009). Influence of tree size and dominance on incidence of bark stripping by grey squirrels to oak and impact on tree growth. Forestry 2009,82,4, 431-444. Full text , PDF ^(201K)

Ferryman, M., Mayle, B. A. and Morgan, G. W. (2006). Visual method for evaluating the state of sexual development in male grey squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis). Reproduction, Fertility and Development 18, 383-393.

Mayle, B. A. (2005). Britain’s woodlands under threat; Grey squirrels and the risk they pose to European woodlands. Trees, Journal of the International Tree Foundation. 65 9-11.

Pepper, H.W., G. Kerr (2005). Preliminary studies on collars to protect trees from grey squirrel bark-stripping damage. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 99(2): 105-112.

Gurnell, J., Lurz, P.W.W., Shirley, M.D.F., Cartmel, S., Garson, P.J., Magris, L., Steele, J. (2004) Monitoring red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) in Britain ^(PDF-347K) , Mammal Review. 34, 51-74.

Hewson, C., Fuller, R., Mayle, B., Smith, K. (2004) Possible impacts of grey squirrels on birds and other wildlife. British Wildlife 15, 183-191.

Mayle, B., Gurnell, J. (2004) Squirrel control in conifers, Forestry and British Timber, April 2004, 16-19.

Gurnell, J., Mayle, B.A. (2003) Ecological impacts of the alien grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Britain, conference proceedings: MammAliens – a one day conference on the problems caused by non-native British mammals, 40-45, Mammals Trust UK.