Wednesday 4 April 2012

Ainsdale residents urged to report sick red squirrels to wildlife trust



A CONSERVATION charity is appealing to Ainsdale residents to help prevent red squirrels dying from the pox virus.
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside wants Ainsdale residents to report sick red squirrels to them straightaway.
The virus causes red squirrels to develop lesions and ulcers around their eyes, mouth and feet. Left untreated the disease is fatal although if caught early enough there is a chance of saving a squirrel's life.
Poorly red squirrels from Ainsdale are sent to the RSPCA at their wildlife centre in Stapeley Grange in Nantwich, Cheshire for treatment.
Fiona Whitfield, who is the trust's conservation officer for Ainsdale and Formby, said that virus had not spread to Ainsdale's nature reserve.
She said: “So far all the sick animals have been seen in people’s gardens in Ainsdale and we want to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading into the nearby National Nature Reserve where it did such terrible damage last time.”
Lancashire Wildlife Trust advises the public not to touch, pick up or transport sick or dead squirrels but to ring the Red Squirrel Field Officer on 07590 745862. People who feed squirrels are asked to disinfect feeding equipment daily.


No comments:

Post a Comment

You only need to enter your comment once! Comments will appear once they have been moderated. This is so as to stop the would-be comedian who has been spamming the comments here with inane and often offensive remarks. You know who you are!

Related Posts with Thumbnails

ShareThis