Forestry department confirms illegal importation of Squirrels on Bequia

An officer from the Department of Forestry within the **Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour** holding a squirrel found on Bequia. Photo: Forestry Department.

By Admin. Updated 3:19 p.m., Thursday, December 2, 2021, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The Department of Forestry says it was able to confirm today (December 2), the presence of squirrels on the northern Grenadine island of Bequia.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the department said “a contingency of officers from the forestry services journeyed to Bequia to investigate the reported sighting of squirrels on Bequia.”

“The team was able to confirm the presence of the animals and proceeded to cull the animals. However only one was culled, the other was apparently injured,” the department stated.

The department said “the animals were brought to the island without an importation permit, veterinary and or health certificates.”

The department said that “the introduction was an irresponsible and illegal act. The introduction of exotic animals into a new environment is dangerous, these animals can bring diseases, become pest and upset the natural balances, especially on island ecosystems.”