'Elvis' the grey squirrel thought captured or dead

An animal charity has said it is "highly likely that something has happened" to a squirrel thought to have arrived in Guernsey via a vehicle in February.

Steve Byrne, manager of the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), said he thought it likely the animal, dubbed Elvis, had been captured or killed.

In March the States of Guernsey had tried to trap the invasive non-native mammal but this week said it "couldn't justify the use of taxpayers' money to continue looking for our stowaway visitor".

Mr Byrne asked anyone with any information about the squirrel to share it with the GSPCA.

The States Veterinary Officers said they were "not actively seeking to catch the squirrel".

The Sarnian squirrel, colloquially named Elvis, was first spotted near Bluchip in St Sampsons on 24 February.

Mr Byrne said there had been a number of sightings near and around Delancy Park between the areas of St Peter Port and St Sampsons until early March.

He said: "We have very few predators in Guernsey that would kill or eat a squirrel other than birds of prey, certain pets or human beings - whether accidental or intentional - which we hope hasn't happened.

"We continue to appeal for sightings of Elvis, but with the months of no reports it is highly likely that something has happened to the Sarnian squirrel from being captured to sadly no longer alive."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].