An environmental organisation has issued a reminder to keep wildlife feeders down in Dollar after three red squirrels were sent for a post-mortem.
This comes after squirrelpox was confirmed amongst the red squirrel population in Dollar earlier this year.
A post-mortem examination of an adult male red squirrel found in the town showed that the disease was present.
The case was confirmed by the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and is only the second time the virus has been detected north of the central belt.
Grey squirrels can carry the disease, but they are rarely affected by it. Red squirrels have no natural immunity and so survival is unlikely.
Symptoms include ulcers, scabs and weeping lesions on the face, paws and genitalia, all of which can prevent reds from eating, drinking or moving.
As a result, it is usually fatal within two weeks and if left unmanaged, an outbreak can cause local populations to crash.
Now, the Eastern Lowland Red Squirrel Group have asked people in Dollar to continue to keep their wildlife feeders down.
Three dead red squirrels were sent off for a post-mortem in August, they were from West Dollar.
Posting to Facebook, the group said: “Please keep wildlife feeders down.
“Please note, due to three recent dead red squirrel reports we are asking residents of Dollar to continue to keep feeders down as the virus may still be present in the area.
“All three squirrels have been sent off for post-mortem. We are just waiting for results”.
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