THREE red squirrel kittens have been born at Walton Hall Gardens Children’s Zoo, taking the total number of births on a special breeding programme to 40.
Zoo ranger Peter Cookson Dean said: “This is our first litter of the year and we are keeping our fingers crossed there will be another litter later in the summer.
The young squirrels are now four weeks old and have just starting leaving their nesting box to explore their enclosure.
They will remain at the zoo until they reach thirteen weeks old, at this point they will have to be separated from their parents as the adults will try and chase them away. They will then be either go into a breeding or release programme co-ordinated by the Welsh Mountain zoo.
“The best time for members of the public to try and see them is first thing in the morning when we open at 10.30am or later in the day after 3pm,” said Peter.
The Red Squirrel breeding programme was set up in spring 2006 with the help of funding from WREN and the Waste-recycling group. At present it houses two pairs of adult squirrels.
Red squirrels were once common all over Britain, however since the grey squirrel was brought over from North America in 1876 red squirrel populations have declined dramatically. Red squirrels are still present in Scotland and the North Lake district, but even these populations are under threat with the grey squirrels slowly moving up the country. There is also a colony at Freshfields near Southport.
Grey Squirrels can eat foods before they are ripe enough for the reds and they also carry the parapox virus, which is lethal to reds. Red squirrels can still be found in specially managed nature reserves around England and Wales.
The red squirrel kittens pictured playing out earlier today. Pictures Peter Cookson Dean
