Brown Bears and red squirrels

Latest Articles

Brown Bears and red squirrels
Page Previous 1, 2, 3 Next

Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot

Should grey squirrels be culled to allow for red squirrels?

Yes

80%

[ 38 ]

19%

[ 9 ]

Total Votes : 47

Author

Message

maryf

Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 341
Location: suffolk

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 10 8:36 pm Post subject:
I've seen reds on the Isle of Wight and in Thetford Forest.

Calli

Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 626
Location: Galway

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 10 10:42 pm Post subject:
We have reds in the Portumna Forest Park. Sadly also have pine marten, copious varieties of mink.....

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 10 1:32 am Post subject:
not seen reds around here in decades far too many greys

madcat

Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 10 7:01 pm Post subject:
Used to live in Formby too,its an ok place but a bit dull.The red sqiggles used to come in the garden and eat peanuts,they were cute.

Shane

Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 3467
Location: Doha. Is hot.

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 10 7:14 am Post subject:
Greys should be culled because a) they are downright, bloody vandals and b) they are delicious.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 10 8:22 am Post subject:

Shane wrote:

Greys should be culled because a) they are downright, bloody vandals and b) they are delicious.

And they carry a virus which kills reds.

Shane

Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 3467
Location: Doha. Is hot.

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 10 11:40 am Post subject:
Yeah, that too. But there aren't any reds within hundreds of miles of my place, but I do have a garden that gets wrecked and we have plenty of parks round here that get ruined, so it's a more pressing concern for me! I haven't had a squirrel problem for a while now, though

matt_hooks

Joined: 01 Aug 2010
Posts: 312
Location: Lambourn(ish) Berkshire

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 10 2:23 pm Post subject:
I saw my first red last year whilst living on the Isle of Rum. Fortunately the Grey tree rats haven't found their way there yet. Squirrel, yummy, if a little difficult to get out of the wrapper!

unlacedgecko

Joined: 21 Nov 2009
Posts: 32

Posted: Sat Sep 04, 10 4:37 am Post subject:

Was home for the weekend once (North Northumberland) and saw 3 reds within the space of a few hours. I would defo vote for a cull of greys. Little buggers are a right nuisance. Bunny huggers wouldnt like it though. Was in Castle Park Colchester over the summer and saw locals hand feeding them. One lady was sat on a bench and a grey ran up her leg (!) to get the treat out of her hand. Only a matter of time before some one is bitten...

bibbster

Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 1233
Location: Just a bit inland from Aberaeron

Posted: Sat Sep 04, 10 7:11 am Post subject:

oldish chris wrote:

12Bore wrote:

pookie wrote:

yes, in the Lake District and at Formby near Southport.

Ditto

Lived in Formby for about 20 years, frequently saw red squirrels in the back garden. I always used to describe Formby's whereabouts as "near Liverpool" - doesn't half get the locals upset

Formby is far too posh for rough animals like the Brown Bear

I grew up in Formby too, when you could roam the pinewoods freely and there were loads of Red Squirrels and Natterjack toads (nostalgic sigh

)

Cobnut

Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Posts: 475
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 10 8:03 am Post subject:

I wrote an essay on grey squirrels to get into uni and it was an eye opener. Now, I�m not a �bunny hugger� but I can�t help feeling a weeny bit sorry for a species which man (in his infinite wisdom) deliberately introduced to make things more interesting, which flourished and became a �pest�. If (hu)man didn�t think he was so superior we wouldn�t have the problem we do now, having to cull them.

But let�s not forget that we once slaughtered the reds in their tens of thousands because we considered them a pest, and when we�d got their numbers right down to a dangerous level we then introduced the greys. Although they don�t tend to physically attack the reds they out compete them so within about 15 years there�s only greys in an area.

There is a lot of anti-grey propaganda out there though which I didn�t realise til I was researching it. For example, one source said greys would be responsible for decimating our native Hazel trees because they strip the nuts before they are capable of germinating. So although they bury a lot of them they won�t become plants. However I, and a neighbour, have Hazel saplings all over our gardens where the greys have buried them so it�s not strictly true.

The greys do carry squirrel pox but it is thought they are immune because they built a resistance after suffering from it themselves, and that the same could happen to the reds. Of course, we wouldn�t have to worry about it if we hadn�t culled the reds to low numbers in the first place. Man creates a problem, but it�s ultimately the animals that suffer. Makes me so cross.

Bark stripping is a problem, but even the Forestry Commission is doing research to see whether the cost of culling is worth it compared to the lost revenue from the tree damage. So that�s not cut and dried.

Thankfully grey squirrels do taste nice but it�s a lot of bother for not much meat IMO (and they�re a sod to skin!)

I find it funny how humans are very fond of labelling some species as �pests� or �vermin� yet if you really want to create a problem with the environment you really do need a human to do it.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 10 8:16 am Post subject:

Cobnut wrote:

I find it funny how humans are very fond of labelling some species as �pests� or �vermin� yet if you really want to create a problem with the environment you really do need a human to do it.

Do humans not have a right to inhabit and affect the environment, then?

Cobnut

Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Posts: 475
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 10 10:44 am Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

Cobnut wrote:

I find it funny how humans are very fond of labelling some species as �pests� or �vermin� yet if you really want to create a problem with the environment you really do need a human to do it.

Do humans not have a right to inhabit and affect the environment, then?

I think it�s hypocritical of humans to label some species as pests when so many humans have a negative impact on the environment. I think we have a responsibility to do as little harm as possible, yet we are so arrogant and think we can do what we like regardless. We have a lot of power but it�s often abused unfortunately.

We will probably never have a meeting of minds over this, Brownbear, and as I want to have a pleasant day today I�m not going to get into a debate about it, sorry. It�s too emotive and heavy a subject

...and anyway, Columbo�s on at 1.30pm

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 10 10:51 am Post subject:
All I meant was, if it's OK for grey squirrels to out-compete the reds for resources, why isn't it OK for humans to out-compete the greys?

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 10 8:32 pm Post subject:
Saw a red yesterday in a forest in N.I. First time I have seen a red in nigh on 20 years.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot	All times are GMT Page Previous 1, 2, 3 Next
Page 2 of 3

View Latest Posts