After 16 years of absence, the reds have been spotted in Windermere, Lake District. Competition for food, habitat and disease from the gray rivals have almost wiped out the red squirrels in England and Wales with a 95 percent decline since 1952.
The imported gray squirrels' squirrel pox virus has been a major factor for endangering the number of red squirrels. However, scientists think the reds have finally gained immunity to the disease after 140 years.
Rachel Miller, Red Squirrel field officer at the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire and North Merseyside, noted, "It could be a few years down the line until we know for sure if red squirrels have any long-term immunity or not, as there is much more research that needs to be done. But this squirrel survived the pox, which is great news."
She continued, "We named him Clark, after Superman's 'Clark Kent', because he's a super squirrel. We don't know why he survived, but something made him resistant to the pox."
"We radio-tracked him after his release so we could check on his progress back in the wild and he did well," Miller continued.
Homecoming to one of Britain's most stunning tourist spots, the reds are now returning to woods in the area, with their numbers rising steadily by 7 percent, according to recent UK studies of woodlands.
Bob Cartwright, from the charity Westmorland Red Squirrels, said, "So far this year there have been seven sightings, including just a few weeks ago a red seen bouncing around in Ellerthwaite Square right in the center of Windermere. It is pretty clear that they are here in good numbers."
More than 700 red squirrels are now thought to live on Anglesey, North Wales, and many have crossed the Menai Strait bridge to settle in Bangor. Wildlife experts also claim the island a gray squirrel-free zone after a controversial 20-year eradication program.
The reds have been natives of Britain for thousands of years, but the first grays were imported here from North America in 1876. Thanks to the Duke of Bedford, more grays were imported to the park at Woburn Abbey, where they reproduced significantly.
Contrary to the myth that gray squirrels are driving out the red squirrels, experts believe it is because grays' adaptability to the ecosystem.
A full grown gray can weigh almost twice as much as red and can carry more body fat, ensuring their survivability to tough winters, unlike the red ones.
Gray squirrels won the title "vermin" in the 1920s and 1930s, when their large numbers started to cause significant damage to commercial forestry and beech trees.
In 1938, a law was signed banning further importation of these creatures, and in following years, various methods failed to control gray squirrels.
Photo: Flickpicpete | Flickr
