Barbary ground squirrel caught in Playa Honda as Cabildo issues urgent alert

One animal is enough to alter an island ecosystem. That is why the capture of a Barbary ground squirrel in Playa Honda mobilised local police, environmental officers and a specialist team within hours. The animal had arrived in Lanzarote that same day as a stowaway, hidden in the bodywork of a rental car used by a couple of tourists travelling from Fuerteventura.

The tip-off came from a member of the public. After the alert, officers from the Policia Local de San Bartolome, environmental agents of the Cabildo de Lanzarote and the RedEXOS intervention team of the Gobierno de Canarias worked together to trap the rodent before it could escape into the surrounding area.

The president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, stressed the value of the quick response: "Preventing an invasive species from becoming established is decisive in protecting our biodiversity, our crops and our territory". The environment councillor, Samuel Martin, pointed to what happened on the neighbouring island.

In Fuerteventura the species was introduced in 1965, when two animals kept as pets were released. The population there is now estimated at around one million individuals, causing significant damage to vegetation and farming. Invasive alien species, the authorities note, can bring severe economic consequences and public health risks.

What to do if you spot one

The Playa Honda operation worked because a report arrived in time. If you see an animal that clearly does not belong to the local fauna, do not try to catch it or feed it: note the exact spot and the time, take a photograph from a distance if you can, and contact the environmental authorities straight away. It is also worth checking vehicles arriving by ferry from other islands, since engine bays and undersides are the usual hiding places for these unintended passengers.