Recruits hired for squirrel fight

The officers will trap and cull grey squirrels across southern Scotland

A team of officers is being pulled together to help trap and cull grey squirrels across the south of Scotland.

A total of 10 posts have been created to target "hot spots" throughout the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

The officers will be used to attempt to form a "buffer zone" to protect Scotland's red squirrel population.

Grey squirrels compete with their red counterparts for food and also carry the squirrel pox virus, which has no effect on them but is fatal for reds.

A scheme of trapping and killing greys has been under way across southern Scotland for some time.

If the pox gets north of the border we are going to see the extinction of the red squirrel in the UK Richard Wales Red Squirrels in South of Scotland

It has aimed to block "incursions" from south of the border.

However, a number of cases of squirrel pox in the region have prompted the increase in resources for the Red Squirrels in South Scotland scheme.

Earlier this year the Scottish Government announced funding to allow the Forestry Commission to let four rangers be allocated to grey squirrel control.

A further six officers are now being recruited.

According to Richard Wales of Red Squirrels in South Scotland the time has come to take action.

"We are currently creating a buffer zone from coast to coast," he said.

"We need to make sure we keep the pox out.

"If the pox gets north of the border we are going to see the extinction of the red squirrel in the UK."

'Morally wrong'

Earlier this year the first grey squirrel was officially reported in the Highlands.

It was thought it may have reached the Inverness area on the back of a lorry carrying hay or straw bales.

In April, tests also confirmed squirrel pox cases at three sites on a Dumfries and Galloway estate.

Queensberry Estate manager Mark Coombs described the news as "absolutely devastating".

Animal rights groups have regularly voiced their opposition to the cull of grey squirrels.

Advocates for Animals has described the practice as "morally wrong".

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