The Moorish Squirrel has reappeared in Lanzarote. Several animals of this type have been sighted on the island and this is the second time it has occurred, as previously it was possible to capture and sacrifice a specimen. The Minister of the Environment, Carlos Espino, held an urgent meeting this Tuesday with the Environment officials of the seven town councils to inform them about a possible plague.
"The Moorish Squirrel is an exotic species introduced in the Canary Islands that can cause serious damage to the species of flora, fauna and native invertebrates of the islands, as well as to agriculture, as it has a great reproductive facility, being considered a plague."
This rodent is a danger because, despite its friendly appearance, we must bear in mind that it is a source of pests and diseases transmissible to animals and humans, so it is advisable not to provide them with food, not to transport them to any island, avoid turning them into pets and notify the Nature Protection service of the Civil Guard if any of their specimens are sighted.
"The collaboration of everyone is very important to prevent the Moorish Squirrel from becoming a plague in Lanzarote, as has happened in Fuerteventura. In this sense, we are going to meet with the Association of Hunters requesting their collaboration and to distribute informative material with the collaboration of the Town Councils, so that citizens know the risk posed by this rodent and the precautionary measures to be taken", said Carlos Espino.
The Minister of the Environment has also announced that suitable traps have been requested to capture the Moorish Squirrel and the collaboration of the public company TRACSA.
