Aug. 19 (UPI) — A group of British animal lovers said a rope bridge they erected over a busy road has proven to be a popular means of travel for the squirrels it was designed to keep out of harm’s way.
The Cramlington and District Red Squirrel Group said members noticed squirrels were dying in distressing numbers on the road in Cramlington, Northumberland, while trying to pass between Seghill woods and the East Cramlington Nature Reserve while collecting hazelnuts.
The group raised about $1,000 and was able to use the funds to erect a thick rope high above the road.
Members said the squirrels started using the rope within just a few days and the number of rodent deaths on the road has sharply decreased.
“It’s fantastic we can protect the red squirrels from danger, and it’s also great for community engagement,” the group’s chairman, Leon Savage, told The Independent.