Jersey island protects thriving red squirrel population
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On Jersey, a Channel Island, red squirrels are flourishing while their numbers decline in much of the United Kingdom.
The island provides a safe haven for the species because grey squirrels, which carry a fatal virus for red squirrels, are absent from Jersey. Although red squirrels were introduced to Jersey in 1885, they have become well established and are now considered an iconic part of the island’s wildlife.
Approximately 120,000 to 160,000 red squirrels remain in the wild across the UK, and conservation efforts aim to increase this number. While strongholds exist in parts of England and 75% of the British population lives in Scotland, Jersey offers a unique environment where the red squirrel population is both widespread and protected by law.
Local residents actively support the squirrels by providing feeders and reporting sightings, and organisations like the National Trust of Jersey and the JSPCA [Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] work to protect their habitats. The JSPCA has already assisted 50 red squirrels this year, including raising eight young squirrels, known as kits. The island also features infrastructure like rope bridges and low speed limits to help squirrels safely navigate roads.
