SQUIRREL Pox has now killed up to 90% of red squirrels in Merseyside’s famous reserve.

In its heyday the Sefton reserve harboured about 1,500 red squirrels but researchers last night revealed that on Formby National Trust land 80% had died out and in Ainsdale that figure was around 90%.

The virus broke out in Ainsdale last November and has swept up and down the reserve “like a wave” over the last 12 months.

Reports that scientists have found a vaccine that will save the endangered species are “premature”, according to the conservationists in Formby.

And they insist the only way to save the iconic species in the red squirrel refuge zone is to cull its grey Ameri-can cousin whenever it appears. Their call follows investigations by scientists at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) which identi-fied eight cases of free-living red squirrels surviving the Squirrel Pox infection.

Dr Anthony Sainsbury, an ZSL researcher, said, “This finding is the first sign of hope in the long struggle to save the species from extinction in the UK.

“Immunity to the Squirrel Pox virus should give red squirrels a fighting chance against the grey invaders, without which red squirrels would undoubtedly be destined to lose the battle for survival in the UK.”

Thom Dallimore, red squirrel field officer based in Formby, said: “I’m afraid that’s an amazingly low number. It’s fantastic work and it’s encouraging for the future but we need to keep our red population now.”

His colleague Ben Hargreaves added: “It’s a long term solution but it’s not going to be a magic bullet.

“It may be encouraging for the British Isles as a whole but it’s quite a different picture when we have got such a ravaging threat to deal with. We’re worried that Dr Sainsbury’s findings might give people a false sense of security.”

In response Red Alert Sefton, together with Save Our Squirrels, have formed a band of dedicated volunteers determined to tackle the outbreak. The 17 volunteers, are on hand to spot grey intruders, sickly reds and hand out traps.

THOM DALLIMORE is available on 07590 745862 or on 0151 920 3769.

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