The message . network
from "Dave Liquorice" contains these words:

On Tue, 11 Mar 2003 16:07:56 -0000, BAC wrote:

Why, therefore, it remains necessary to keep greys out of red
strongholds to ensure the survival of the latter is a mystery to me
:-)

Not quite sure why you have the smiley.

The Red lives in a more restricted habitat and is shyer than the Grey
which is not much more than an opportunistic tree rat. In direct
competition the Grey will win.

I heard recently that if female red squirrels don't get enough to
eat, they don't reach breeding weight, which is why the red population
drops.Greys eat a much wider range of food so breed more easily. There
are areas around south Loch Lomond where both greys and reds live;
probably because it's well wooded with native species so there is more
than enough food for all.

Arran has only reds. Just in the last week, conservationists have
erected two high rope "squirrel bridges" (with the help of the local
fire brigade) across a treelined road where many squirrels get hit by
cars...iirc, around 11 last Oct/Nov.

Janet.