Red squirrels facing bright future on Isle of Wight, study finds

Red squirrels on the island of Wight are booming and have enough food and natural habitats to support growth of their population, a new study revealed. Scientists have also found that if squirrels in the east and west of the island still have different genetic characteristics, there are signs that they are starting to mix.

Researchers from the University of Bournemouth have teamed up with the Wight Squirrel project to study the movements of squirrels, carry out a genetic analysis of fur samples and map the availability of food and the natural environment on the island. They also carried out a public inquiry to find out more about any additional diet by residents.

Their encouraging results were published in the journal Biodiversity and conservation.

“Insular populations are faced with a higher risk of extinction than animals on the continent because of their smallest population and their vulnerability to environmental changes,” said Alyson Buchanan, a doctorate. Student at the University of Bournemouth and the first author of the study.

“Red squirrels on the island of Wight are the largest population in southern England and genetically distinct from those across Europe, it is therefore really important to know how healthy they are to support their conservation,” she added.

Alyson and the team have found that the island has currently enough trees and hedges for the 3,500 estimated red squirrels who live there to prosper and for their population to develop. They also concluded that there was enough seed availability, a key element in their natural food supply, to support them.

Previous research of the Bournemouth team has revealed two distinct genetic makeup between squirrel populations on the east and west side of the island, perhaps due to roads and large spaces open in the center.

The genetic analysis of this study went further by examining more samples of squirrels found in the middle of the island. These results have found signs that the two populations are starting to cross.

“This is very good news that we found some movement between the two groups,” said Dr. Emilie Hardouin, head of the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Bournemouth.

“The gathering of the two genes of genes would help the overall health of future generations of squirrels and help them to adapt to environmental changes. Although we still have the two different populations, it is very encouraging to have a flow of genes between them,” she added.

Many residents of Wight Island provide additional food for squirrels, either intentionally or leaving bird food. Although it can help squirrels, the public inquiry carried out by the team suggests that more people may benefit from advice on food to be published.

Helen Butler of the Wight Squirrel project indicated that “the food of red squirrels in your garden in the event of a shortage of food, such as the end of spring and the beginning of summer, helps their survival. Uncommon peanuts in a wire diet, are intended for birds, so you like, so nourish variety. The nuts are the favorites of all time.

The team has concluded that although more research can be carried out, unless there is a significant change in current conditions and the availability of food, Wight Island remains an ideal habitat for charismatic rodents.

“In the current state of things, things seem good for squirrels of the island and we do not think that there is a risk of high extinction for them,” concluded Alyson.