Implications of squirrelpox virus for successful red squirrel translocations within mainland UK

Abstract

Abstract Remnant red squirrel populations in the UK mainland are threatened by squirrelpox viral disease and the reservoir of the squirrelpox virus, the invasive grey squirrel, is expanding its range. Until this threat can be effectively mitigated, there is a high risk from disease outbreaks, following proposed conservation translocation of red squirrels.

Keywords

• animal welfare
• epidemiology
• impact of disease on populations
• infectious disease
• pathology
• reintroduction biology