- ITV Report
Near extinct red squirrels make comeback in North East
Red squirrels have made a remarkable comeback from near extinction after being spotted on an estate in Northumberland.
The population of the popular furry critters was reduced almost to zero in 2011 after deadly squirrel pox started to spread through Wallington Hall, Northumberland, following the arrival of grey squirrels.
But an initiative by the National Trust has seen the numbers bounce back to 170, with no greys left at all.
The organisation recruited Glen Graham, their first red squirrel ranger, to monitor the numbers and oversee the turnaround:
Saturday (September 23) marks the start of Red Squirrel Awareness Week, with only 15,000 of them left in England.