High speed threat to Big County rare wildlife

Oct 17 2008 by Alison Lowson, Editor

GOOD news for red squirrels this week. It seems that scientists have discovered that some reds have developed an immunity to the squirrelpox virus.

The findings, by the Zoological Society of London, suggest a vaccine could now be developed to help protect red squirrels from the squirrelpox, which is carried by grey squirrels.

Grey squirrels suffer no ill effects from the squirrelpox, but if a red squirrel catches the virus it will be dead within weeks.

But once the vaccine has been developed, can I suggest the boffins next turn their attention to the high speed menaces who tear up and down the Big County roads, leaving a trail of dead wildlife in their tracks.

Earlier this week I saw the distressing sight of a red squirrel flattened by a boy racer near Crieff!

Pity you can immunise against that!