About Wild and Woody Research
Wild and Woody Research is a platform aimed at knowledge sharing and showcasing the process of conducting field research in the wildlife conservation sector. The goal is to have fun and share information on all things wild and wood(land)y!
A Bit About Me
I'm Molly, a Wildlife Conservationist with a passion for research and practical field conservation; I am a graduate of BSc Wildlife Conservation and MSc Wildlife Conservation & UAV Technology. During my career, I have worked in South Africa helping towards research on leopards and hyenas; worked in fundraising and conservation awareness in Borneo, Malaysia; and been an educator at Chester Zoo and Knowsley Safari. After these amazing jobs, I ended up in red squirrel conservation, initially aiding in the set up of the Reclaiming Reds project at Knowsley Safari, before moving onto managing the red squirrel project for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. I am now on a PhD programme at the University of York to further my knowledge on the impacts of grey squirrels on biodiversity and ecosystem services in UK woodland.
Why is this research important?
Red and grey squirrels
Since their introduction into the UK, grey squirrels have had an adverse impact on the red squirrel population. They outcompete red squirrels for food and space, and spread the deadly squirrel pox virus; this virus does not harm grey squirrels but is fatal to reds. Red squirrels are now only found in very small pockets in England and Wales, and although more widespread in Scotland and Ireland, are still struggling from the threats of grey squirrels. It is only through rigorous grey squirrel management from dedicated conservationists that red squirrels are still clinging on to existence in the UK.
In a collaboration with BBC Earth, I helped create a short video which gives more information on the Merseyside and Lancashire red squirrel population. Watch below!
Find out more about grey squirrel impacts on red squirrels in the video below.
Grey squirrels and tree damage
Bark stripping is a natural process exhibited by a number of species, including both red and grey squirrels. The issue with grey squirrel bark stripping is that grey squirrels are a non-native, invasive species who are much bigger and live at larger densities than our native red squirrel, meaning their damage is greater. Research and field observation has uncovered the damage that bark stripping by grey squirrels can have on our trees. This phenomenon is of great concern, as it leads to widespread damage to our precious natural resources, can have knock on effects to other woodland species, and can reduce woodland resilience to storms and adverse weather events.
Below are a series of grey squirrel bark stripping images. Thank you to UK Squirrel Accord for providing an accessible image gallery.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Other impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services
There is not much else known about the impacts of grey squirrels on UK woodland habitat. However, we do know that invasive species can be devastating and are one of the lead threats to global biodiversity. This project was set up to explore some of these knowledge gaps, quantify the lesser known impacts, and explore the benefits that could be achieved through traditional and novel forms of grey squirrel management.