RED squirrels from Yorkshire are being exported to Anglesey to create a haven for the endangered animals. Red squirrels from Kilnsey Park, near Grassington, will be released on the island through a project coordinated by the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay. The pioneering project to clear the island’s woodlands of non-native grey squirrels is entering its final phase and red squirrels are now being reintroduced across a range of woodland sites over the winter. The Yorkshire squirrels will be joined by others from zoos and private collections across the UK. Anglesey already has squirrels from Thetford Forest, Cumbria and Scotland and it is hoped that it will soon be home to the most genetically diverse red squirrel population in the UK. Experts say that many of the squirrels are genetically unique and are the only survivors from populations that became almost extinct as the larger American grey squirrel moved in. Anglesey Red Squirrel Project leader Dr Craig Shuttleworth said: “The problem is that not only do grey squirrels compete for the same resources as red squirrels, but they also pass on the deadly ‘squirrel pox’ virus to the reds, and this second factor means that even a handful of grey squirrels can pose a significant threat to local red squirrel populations.” | 
