England’s last red squirrel strongholds are under siege from larger greys – who carry the deadly pox that kills our popular native species, a new study reveals. 

Volunteers for the conservation organisation Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) visited 246 sites for its annual squirrel check. 

But they were alarmed to find while red squirrel numbers were holding up, greys now outnumbered them in both Cumbria and Northumberland. 

RSNE project officer Abbie McQueen called the substantial increase of grey squirrels “concerning”, but said “we hope it can help build a case for further funding in areas that need it”. 

Grey squirrels were introduced into Britain 150 years ago by aristocratic landowners and carry a pox virus which kills 99 per cent of infected native reds within weeks.

Grey squirrels not only threaten reds they also cause damage to woodlands, according to the Royal Forestry Society.

Most conservation organisations operating in Northumberland and Cumbria either cull grey squirrels themselves or allow others to do so on their land. 

A total of 246 sites were surveyed by RSNE and reds were found in 52 per cent of them, up from 50 per cent in 2023 – but greys were also found in 69 per cent of sites, an increase of 6.8 per cent on the previous year. 

In Northumberland, grey detection was about 25 per cent higher than reds, and 17.3 per cent higher in Cumbria. 

Ian Glendinning, chair of Northern Red Squirrels, which represents volunteer conservation groups, said: “There is hope for reds with things like gene editing, contraception, but they are years away. 

“By the time we come to that stage, I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll have any red squirrels left in England.” 

The new findings uncovered that in Northumberland’s Kielder Forest, more sites than ever before saw evidence of reds, despite an increase in greys, and no greys at all were found at Kyloe Red Squirrel Reserve near Berwick. 

RSNE said the survey showed “conservation intervention is paying off” but would welcome “more funding”. 

Ms McQueen added: “We are not disheartened and we are so grateful to all those who work tirelessly to protect our red squirrels.” 

But Mr Glendinning said: “The reality is all we’re doing is slowing down the inevitable. But I’ll keep going because I don’t want the last red squirrel where I live to die on my watch.”

In October the Daily Express told how animal activists had been criticised by red squirrel volunteer groups for releasing greys from legal traps – and even vandalising surveillance cameras.​

The Bedlington and District Red Squirrel group say it has had up to five greys released in two years and CCTV equipment stolen. 

Co-ordinator Paul Brannan said: “In one case, a trap had been taken out of its covering, in another, there was actually video evidence. 

“We tracked down the man on social media and I sent him a message and he apologised, so we didn’t take it further,” he added. 

But many animal rights groups are opposed to culling greys. Animal Aid campaign manager Fiona Pereira argued: “There is no excuse to kill one animal to boost numbers of another. 

“There are still healthy numbers of reds in mainland Europe – which makes the motivation for killing the greys in the UK even more unjustified.”