They91裸聊视频檙e furry, cute and invading the Okanagan.

Five years ago, Thompson Rivers University professor Karl Larsen of the devastation caused by invasive eastern grey squirrels.

Now, as the squirrels flock into City Park and elsewhere, Larsen said it91裸聊视频檚 too late for the Okanagan, as they have spread to Vernon and Penticton.

Larsen said he sent emails years ago to the City of Kelowna, but received no response on his warnings. According to the city, it doesn91裸聊视频檛 manage the squirrel population, and said the Ministry of Environment has been watching the newcomers.

91裸聊视频淚 expect the population to keep growing and growing. They91裸聊视频檙e now sighted in Vernon fairly often and they91裸聊视频檙e going to make it to Penticton. I would say the Okanagan is a goner,91裸聊视频� said Larsen.

Naomi Bothe is a co-owner of Firefly Farm in Kelowna, and she said the squirrels have decimated the farm91裸聊视频檚 hazelnut and walnut crops.

The furry invaders started appearing on her property around seven years ago and it91裸聊视频檚 been five years since Bothe has been able to gather nuts.

91裸聊视频淥nce the invasive squirrels moved in we didn91裸聊视频檛 get any more nuts,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e really destroyed that opportunity for us.91裸聊视频�

The squirrels also chewed through storage containers in her barn.

When comparing them to the native red squirrels, she said the native species didn91裸聊视频檛 cause a problem for her nut supply.

Initially it was a few squirrels she said, but now they91裸聊视频檙e breeding and their numbers have been slowly increasing since she first spotted them.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e even found them running up the side of my house. As the population grows, I91裸聊视频檓 sure it will be a problem,91裸聊视频� she said.

Bothe would like to see a response from the city and the provincial government.

91裸聊视频淯p until this point, we91裸聊视频檙e thankful they haven91裸聊视频檛 gotten into our other crops,91裸聊视频� she said, noting Firefly Farms sells mixed vegetables.

Larsen has had contact with the provincial government, but 91裸聊视频渘othing is happening. They91裸聊视频檙e not as large of a profile as a rat for instance.91裸聊视频�

The native red squirrels, which are smaller in size, are being displaced by the larger grey squirrel, said Larsen. The red squirrel is territorial and not suited for urban environments, where the invasive species can live much closer to homes, feeding off of bird feeders and encroaching on the red squirrel91裸聊视频檚 territory.

91裸聊视频淭hey don91裸聊视频檛 have this territorial behaviour, so where you would have one squirrel in your block now you have 15,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd the numbers are just going to go crazy.91裸聊视频�

Squirrels in large numbers also cause problems with chewing through wires, damaging tulip bulbs and gardens in parks. Larsen recently conducted a study with his students which proved the squirrels will eat grapes.

The problem in dealing with invasive species, is not having the funding before the species becomes a problem, he said. Squirrels are also cute. If it was a rat problem, people might have a different response, he said.

Larsen spent weeks in the Okanagan last spring, collecting grey squirrels to see if they carry disease.

91裸聊视频淭alking to people in these neighbourhoods, it91裸聊视频檚 clear to see the numbers are increasing and they91裸聊视频檙e eventually going to fill the city up like they91裸聊视频檝e done elsewhere.91裸聊视频�

There is no invasive species society specifically for the Central Okanagan, but Lisa Scott of the Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society said she has seen the squirrels in the area.

The society is involved with the and works on dealing with invasive plants, but only surplus funding goes to animals like squirrels or insects, she said, and it91裸聊视频檚 more for educational purposes.

Grant programs from the ministry go to regional groups to handle plants, she said. There has been talk of an Invasive Species Act, said Scott, but it won91裸聊视频檛 be around for a period of time.

91裸聊视频淪quirrels is just another example of 91裸聊视频榳e don91裸聊视频檛 know what to do, so we turn to people like Larsen,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said.

According to David Karn, with the Ministry of Environment, the invasive squirrel more recently appeared in the Thompson-Okanagan region, 91裸聊视频渞epresenting a significant geographical jump from the previously known range.91裸聊视频�

A project was conducted to determine the range of the squirrel in 2012 and 91裸聊视频渨e will continue to work closely with the Invasive Species Council on the management of invasive animal issues,91裸聊视频� he said.

Bruce Smith, communications officer for the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, said there is funding set aside to deal with Canada geese, called the Geese Management Program, but not with invasive squirrels.

91裸聊视频淲e do have invasive species but it91裸聊视频檚 more noxious weeds. We do insects and weeds. We do exotic animals and we do dogs but that91裸聊视频檚 the extent of it,91裸聊视频� he said. For funding to be allocated, the squirrels would have to be a nuisance or causing damages, he said.

Larsen predicts the squirrels will continue to spread throughout B.C.

91裸聊视频淭hey are considered to be one of the 100 most invasive species on the planet,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e could stop them, but unfortunately every year goes by and it91裸聊视频檚 going to take more and more money.91裸聊视频�

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .