Wildlife Trust says 'no' to squirrels idea

The Manx Wildlife Trust says it's opposed to introducing red squirrels into the Island, because the effect of a non-native species on the environment can't be predicted.

Spokesman Duncan Bridges says he is aware of the proposals by a United Kingdom conservationist, who has had meetings with representatives of the Manx government.

The idea would be for the Isle of Man to become a refuge for the squirrels, which have been under threat in the UK for decades because of competition from their grey cousins.

But Mr Bridges says putting a new species into the ecosystem could have unintended consequences: