There has been sadness and disappointment at Culzean Country Park near Maybole this week, after the National Trust for Scotland confirmed that a grey squirrel from the park has tested positive for the squirrel pox virus (seropositive).

This is the first time the virus has been found to be present in the area and represents a concerning leap to the north.

The discovery of this seropositive animal was made recently by Trust Rangers onsite, working closely with staff from the Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project (RSSS) and has been confirmed by expert testers. The squirrel pox virus is now the single largest threat to red squirrels. The disease is carried by the introduced grey squirrel, but while it is harmless to them, it is lethal to our native red squirrel. Once infected with the virus red squirrels suffer a slow, lingering death dying within approximately 15 days of contracting the virus.

There is no risk to humans from the disease.

National Trust for Scotland nature adviser Mr Lindsay Mackinlay said: “This is a very worrying development as we had until now hoped that the Southern Uplands, together with the active control of greys by many concerned landowners further south, were acting as a barrier and preventing the further spread of this virus north. However, we now know that there are some other areas in Ayrshire with ‘positive squirrels’, near Mauchline and Stair, suggesting the disease has spread south-westwards from there.

“We are now undertaking further testing at Culzean to see how widespread the virus is and will be working with Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project. We would appeal for other landowners in the area to work with RSSS and attempt to contain the spread. The last thing anyone wants to see is the virus reaching Glasgow.”

“Squirrel pox is playing a major role in reducing the population of red squirrels and we must prevent the further spread of the virus, before it reaches the areas where red squirrels are still well-established.

Deirdre Mackinnon, senior ranger at Culzean Country Park said: “This is a very sad discovery for Culzean. The park had a population of red squirrels until about five years ago, but they have since disappeared totally.”