Hair needed for CSI grey squirrel

[squirrelsoilder 0]

So, a fairly odd request that I'm sure hasn't been seen round here before. I'm working on a research project to help conserve the native red squirrel. However, part of this is to get a better understanding of the grey squirrel by looking at their DNA.

 

What is known about the grey squirrel is that they originally came from North America and were brought to the UK, Ireland and Italy by early settlers in the US. What I suspect is that only a few indivduals founded the european population so really they should have a fairly low genetic diversity. However, the fact they have thrived so well in Europe they must have overcome any genetic bottlenecks. Anyway, if more information was known about the grey it could lead to better conservation practices for the red squirrel.

 

This is where you guys come in. I'm looking for a tuft of hair off the tail of grey squirrels. If any of ye have shot/snared or found grey squirrrels I'd be really grateful if you could post me a few hairs plucked from the tail. Plucked hair is better than cut hair as most the DNA is found in the root of the hair. Approx 10 hairs is plenty and please don't mix the hairs from multiple individuals as they all have unique DNA just like humans.

 

I also need a short note with any info you have such as a grid reference and the approx date you found the squirrel, sex etc are all helpful.

 

I'm based in Ireland, but would like samples from both the UK and Ireland and further afield.

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

as soon as i shoot one squirrel soldier. when i get one i'll send you some hairs. anything to help conserve the red squirrel.

aaron

[Foxy09 3]

PM me your address and ill get some samples sent over.

 

Foxy

[Meriln2008 0]

I'm in the process of making a squirrel trap so as soon as I can i'll pm you for address and post hair.

The other thing is we have dark brown squirrels here as well.

We live two miles from whipsnde zoo,and when we moved here 5 1/2 yrs ago we thought they were escapees from thier,but as it turns out they are just greys in disguise .i'll get a pic as soon as I can and post it here for you.

As anyone else seen these brown Squirrels.

 

 

>>>>>> :sick:

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

do the squirrel hairs have to be fresh or can they be from an old tail?

[squirrelsoilder 0]

We live two miles from whipsnde zoo,and when we moved here 5 1/2 yrs ago we thought they were escapees from thier,but as it turns out they are just greys in disguise .i'll get a pic as soon as I can and post it here for you.

 

Grey squirrels can change colour slightly depending on the time of year. Their tails tend to turn a reddish brown and sometimes people even confuse them with red squirrels. Are they brown all year round? The DNA test will tell me if they are different to the average grey. It could be a slight mutation, like some grey squirrels can be white in the states.

 

do the squirrel hairs have to be fresh or can they be from an old tail?

The fresher the better, but hair samples have been shown to work even from museum specimens so they should be ok, I'll pm my details

[spiderpig 39]

can you do human dna tests??? might save me a fortune with the csa hahahhaha

[squirrelsoilder 0]

can you do human dna tests??? might save me a fortune with the csa hahahhaha

 

Unfortunately, I'm sticking with the multiple paternity cases of squirrels....unless you plan to pay the csa in acorns???

Edited March 9, 2009 by squirrelsoilder

[spiderpig 39]

thats a right idea pay em in acorns hahahhhahahahahahahahhahahaha

[Meriln2008 0]

We live two miles from whipsnde zoo,and when we moved here 5 1/2 yrs ago we thought they were escapees from thier,but as it turns out they are just greys in disguise .i'll get a pic as soon as I can and post it here for you.

 

Grey squirrels can change colour slightly depending on the time of year. Their tails tend to turn a reddish brown and sometimes people even confuse them with red squirrels. Are they brown all year round? The DNA test will tell me if they are different to the average grey. It could be a slight mutation, like some grey squirrels can be white in the states.

 

do the squirrel hairs have to be fresh or can they be from an old tail?

The fresher the better, but hair samples have been shown to work even from museum specimens so they should be ok, I'll pm my details

These squirrels are dark brown all year round. Missus thinks she can find info,I'll post it later.still no pics tho...sorry

[squirrelsoilder 0]

We live two miles from whipsnde zoo,and when we moved here 5 1/2 yrs ago we thought they were escapees from thier,but as it turns out they are just greys in disguise .i'll get a pic as soon as I can and post it here for you.

 

Grey squirrels can change colour slightly depending on the time of year. Their tails tend to turn a reddish brown and sometimes people even confuse them with red squirrels. Are they brown all year round? The DNA test will tell me if they are different to the average grey. It could be a slight mutation, like some grey squirrels can be white in the states.

 

do the squirrel hairs have to be fresh or can they be from an old tail?

The fresher the better, but hair samples have been shown to work even from museum specimens so they should be ok, I'll pm my details

These squirrels are dark brown all year round. Missus thinks she can find info,I'll post it later.still no pics tho...sorry

 

 

That is fairly unusual alright. Do you think they are larger than the grey squirrels?

[Meriln2008 0]

We live two miles from whipsnde zoo,and when we moved here 5 1/2 yrs ago we thought they were escapees from thier,but as it turns out they are just greys in disguise .i'll get a pic as soon as I can and post it here for you.

 

Grey squirrels can change colour slightly depending on the time of year. Their tails tend to turn a reddish brown and sometimes people even confuse them with red squirrels. Are they brown all year round? The DNA test will tell me if they are different to the average grey. It could be a slight mutation, like some grey squirrels can be white in the states.

 

do the squirrel hairs have to be fresh or can they be from an old tail?

The fresher the better, but hair samples have been shown to work even from museum specimens so they should be ok, I'll pm my details

These squirrels are dark brown all year round. Missus thinks she can find info,I'll post it later.still no pics tho...sorry

they're about same size as grey's

 

>>>>> :sick:

That is fairly unusual alright. Do you think they are larger than the grey squirrels?

[Meriln2008 0]

Hi soldier, have just found this.

It was a bit of a suprise to me.

These are what we have I'm sure

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-56...e-medicine.html

 

Obviously the initial info we got was incorrect

 

>>>>> :sick:

Edited March 10, 2009 by Meriln2008

[squirrelsoilder 0]

Hi soldier, have just found this.

It was a bit of a suprise to me.

These are what we have I'm sure

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-56...e-medicine.html

 

Obviously the initial info we got was incorrect

 

>>>>> :sick:

 

 

Thats very interesting! Don't think there has been any sightings of those in Ireland. Thanks for posting!

[BBB 7]

i have a [ black] grey squirrel in the freezer . i got it off a guy in buckinghamshire he trapped it down there. and tell's me he's had a few over the years. if you want a few tail hairs you can have em. but i am a taxidermist and will be naturalizing the squirrel . so i can t pull a lot of hairs out. would a few be ok.