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Article: Disease takes toll of red squirrels; Formby's colony 'could be wiped out in four years'.(News)
- Article from:
- Daily Post (Liverpool, England)
- Article date:
- November 30, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 MGN Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: BY KATE MANSEY Daily Post Staff
A DEADLY disease has hit Formby's red squirrels which could be wiped out by 2010, according to conservation experts.
The endangered species is under imminent threat in Sefton after being struck down with a fatal bug passed on to them by grey squirrels.
Fourteen red squirrels have died at the National Trust reserve in Freshfield, and more look set to follow.
Grey squirrels can carry the parapox virus with no ill-effects but once passed on to red squirrels the disease is fatal.
Without drastic intervention to prevent red squirrels coming into contact with the virus the endangered species ...