From the Castello Park the council of the Zoofile Guards
Legnano – Small, friendly face and a furry tail: lo gray squirrel it is an animal that can trigger empathy towards it. Especially if you see him approaching the visitors with curiosity Castello Park in Legnano. However, we must not let ourselves be moved by its appearance, but we must evaluate the right behavior keeping in mind that it is a invasive alien species. With these last two terms we mean an animal or a plant that does not originate from a specific place, but which has been introduced voluntarily or involuntarily into a geographical area other than that of origin and that they cause damage to local flora or fauna.
An invasive species can also have health consequences, as pointed out by the Zoofile guards of the Metropolitan City of Milan and Monza/Brianza during the monitoring activity to protect pets in the Municipality of Legnano del June 2, 2024. “At Castello Park we informed the citizens present to keep their distance from the gray squirrels present in significant numbers in the Park, as they could have fleas that cause wild typhus“, he explains in a note Gabriele Falcomerresponsible for supervision.
The gray squirrel in Italy
The first introduction of the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Italy dates back to 1948, in Candiolo (Piedmont). In the 1966 specimens were found in a park in Genoa Nervi. From the 1999 the species has also been identified in Lombardywhile more recently nuclei a Perugia (Umbria), in Veneto and in Tuscany.
In the “National Gray Squirrel Management Plan” of February 2023, it is specified that in the area of northern Ticino (between the provinces of Varese and Milan) a nucleus was registered, while in the Alto Milanese and southern Milan areas there are seven nuclei. The species was included in European Regulation 12/15/2007 n.230 which determines the guidelines for the prevention, eradication and control of invasive species.
The competition with the red squirrel
The presence of the gray squirrel negatively affects above all the survival of a native species: it red squirrel (Sciurus vulgarisor European common squirrel). The competition between the two species is indirect, that is, there are no direct interactions between the two animals, such as attacks or hybridizations. However, the behavior and characteristics of the gray squirrel allow it to have greater reproductive success than the native “red”.
The reason for this success is to be found mainly in the feeding of the “grey”, which also feeds on acorns which are not digestible by the “red”. Not to mention the fact that S. carolinensis he is able to find and make his own food reserves hidden by S. vulgaris. In addition, the gray squirrel is capable of to adapt quite easily even in the areas of poor environmental quality, such as urban parks. Precisely in these green areas he also found an additional source of food thanks to his own confidence with man who can offer him something to eat.
Behavior in the Park
The topic of managing invasive species is complex and, specifically for the gray squirrel, can be divisive. This is especially true because it is an animal towards which we are led to feel empathy. The “National Gray Squirrel Management Plan” also identifies the intervention methods that are applied by qualified personnel. On the contrary, “do-it-yourself justice” should be avoided, such as the use of poisons, rodenticides or other non-selective methods that would also harm other animals.
Just as it would be better not to feed wild animals. Some attention should also be paid to your pets, such as dogs. From September, the Zoofile Guards of the Metropolitan City of Milan and Monza/Brianza will start with the dog trainer Andrea (ASD “101 Dalmatians”) a free training course for the public on how to manage your four-legged friend.
Emmanuele Occhipinti
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Emmanuele Occhipinti
For as long as he can remember, Emmanuele Occhipinti has been fascinated by naturalistic and cultural topics. These passions – in addition to being considered real “valuable assets” to be shared – inevitably led him to study Environmental and Nature Sciences and to collaborate with various online magazines which allowed him to broaden his range of interests .
