First red squirrels spotted near Kirkby Lonsdale after 20 years

Jason Braithwaite, (53), shared a photo a landowner sent him of a red squirrel near Kirkby Lonsdale that was caught on camera on April 20. Mr Braithwaite did want to give the exact location of the woodland as he did not want to attract public attention to the area.

However, he said that not only was it the first time in two decades since a red squirrel was spotted in that area, a groundsman who had been working there for years told him that he had never seen one. 

One of the only population centres left in England for red squirrels after greys were introduced in the late nineteenth century has been the Lake District.

Red squirrel populations decline quickly when greys move into an area, because of competition and disease (Image: Jason Braithwaite)

Even defending this area has been a challenge with Mr Braithwaite saying that red squirrels could go extinct in the Lakes within 15 years if the greys are allowed to move in. 

Mr Braithwaite writes articles on red squirrel conservation as JDJ Braithwaite. His methods can be seen as controversial as he uses an air rifle to shoot grey squirrels 'humanely' via setting up feeders and then using a hide rather than trapping.

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He uses cameras to see what animals are using the feeder, using that as a basis to plan out where he will go. 

He uses shooting rather than trapping as a method of removing greys from an area (Image: Jason Braithwaite)

He said: "I take it very seriously to make sure its as clean and humane as it can be."

He argues that it is possible to accidentally trap red squirrels and leave them there 'for two or three hours' and the stressful experience can affect breeding, as well as the fact he 'doesn't have the time' to go round and free them again.

There are two mating seasons per year for squirrels, which means that greys can quickly repopulate if they are not continually removed. Mr Braithwaite said he has removed hundreds of greys in the last 30 years, with permission given to him by landowners to cover many acres of woodland in the Lune Valley. Although there are red squirrel conservation groups, he said that he works alone. 

According to both Mr Braithwaite and the BBC Wildlife Magazine, grey squirrels not only outcompete reds but also bring parapox which can devastate red populations. Grey squirrels can also eat seeds and nuts before they ripen, unlike reds, and the greys strip the bark off juvenile trees to get to the sap.