In praise of Grey Squirrels

[Albedo]

A random google from t'internet...enjoy:001_smile:

 

Like many, I find it strange and disturbing that the language used to describe grey squirrels is so frequently filled with bile. Phrases usually reserved for society's most unpleasant elements – "marauding", "raiders", even "terrorists" – is somehow thought acceptable for these small, agile, exceptionally clever wild mammals.

 

Have we become so distant from the natural world that we see other species doing no more than finding food and rearing young in a safe place as a threat? This may be true, but there are more selfish elements at play, too. There are many influential people who have a vested interest in demonising grey squirrels and demanding a nationwide cull (a term that hides the horrors reserved for squirrels – bleeding to death over many days after ingesting poison, being bludgeoned or trapped then shot). The voices shouting most loudly include those with forestry interests, supporters of field sports and gamekeepers, each of whom believes that killing grey squirrels can boost their businesses and save them a few pounds. And each seems to subscribe to the fallacious argument by assertion – that if something is said enough times it becomes true.

 

It's the same with the belief that grey squirrels oust the red squirrels. The reality is that red squirrels suffered badly from deforestation, severe winters, disease epidemics and human persecution long before grey squirrels arrived in the UK. Despite their decline to near-extinction in the 18th century, hundreds of thousands of red squirrels continued to be killed for bounty right up until the 1930s. But fashions change and – thanks, perhaps, to nothing more than a children's book – Squirrel Nutkin is not only back in vogue but also fiercely protected, no matter the cost to other living beings. There is no doubt, however, that if red squirrel numbers were to grow rapidly they too would be killed for their impact on forestry and shooting interests.

 

And the hateful language is spreading. Some, but by no means all, "conservationists" also demand the deaths of grey squirrels for no greater crime than adapting better than their red cousins to an ever-changing landscape. Despite mass building development, habitat destruction, climate change and pollution, grey squirrels have managed to find a niche and thrive. We should applaud their versatility. Killing them because they are doing well flies in the face of Darwinism: persecution of the fittest is wholly unnatural. Of course, true conservationists recognise that changing environments bring about shifts in wildlife patterns and numbers. They do not seek to impose their own whimsical, idealised version of how the countryside should look by doing away with the way it actually is.

 

It's not surprising that squirrels irritate gardeners. They dig up freshly planted bulbs and then create holes in the lawn to rebury them. But it is only our control-freakery that makes us demand a specific plant in exactly the place we have put it. Can't we accept – as nature does – that unpredictable things can happen, and sometimes the self-set plant is more beautiful than any other in our perfectly sculptured backyard? It is the same drive to control everything that leads us to complain bitterly when a squirrel eats nuts she has found in our gardens! Since they are delicious and have been left within her reach, why would she not take them? It's a perfectly sensible thing to do. Quite simply, if we don't want squirrels in our gardens, we shouldn't entice them with bird feeders. Ah, but we want pretty little birds but no squirrels and, while we're at it, no big, squawking crows or magpies either, right? Well, that's tough, because the natural world is varied and beautiful, unpredictable and wild. We should cherish it and learn to live alongside these wonderful creatures. And, above all, we should be grateful for our wonderfully fascinating and incredibly benign wildlife. They have bears in Canada, you know.

[se7enthdevil]

kill every one of the little buggars wrap em up and slap em on the supermarket shelves. i'm a red head my self so want to see the grey completely annihilated from our fair land.

 

a nationwide cull should be implemented as this would give the gunmen something else to shoot at rather than our badgers.

 

that numpty off the wild wood (rob penn i think) was doing it as was jimmy doherty, they shot them and ate them. jimmys nephews loved them and they are probably healthier than any burger or banger on the barbie.

 

come on everyone lets trap and shoot.

[Le Sanglier]

Again, thanks for finding that Albedo, that really articulates what I was trying to say, (plus you did not just put up a link!)

[woodyguy]

Suggesting that it is immoral to interfere with the survival of introduced species is pretty strange.

 

So rabbits in Australia should be allowed to destroy the entire landscape. Japanese knotweed should be able to grow where ever it wishes. Indian Balsam along our rivers should be protected. The list sadly is lengthy and includes sycamore taking over many sensitive woodland areas.

 

In a country which kills and eats thousands of tonnes of meat per year, getting uptight about squirrel control is bizarre at best.

[splinters]

Whilst this is true, I don't see why we should hate the Greys for ever for it.

 

We most likely introduced them, so why not learn to live with them.

 

Rather than treat them like unwanted leaves on the lawn, from another non native that we introduced...the Syc, or copper beech.

 

yes we made the mistake of introducing them and it would be a far worse mistake to not make every effort to eradicate them before we lose the last of our reds.

 

im going to now make a very controversial comment that is not intended to offend any one but im sure it will.

 

gray squirrles are alot like the many nationalities we have allowed to move into this country pushing out the natives taking over our cities and draining all our resources whilst we "to quote the above Learn to live with them"

[Albedo]

Again, thanks for finding that Albedo, that really articulates what I was trying to say, (plus you did not just put up a link!)

 

No wuckers mate...I was torn on the link thing as it's long, So I'm guilty of not editing it to make a point....

 

But as you say I'm claiming 'not guilty' on the 'linkfest' thing:001_smile:

[Le Sanglier]

yes we made the mistake of introducing them and it would be a far worse mistake to not make every effort to eradicate them before we lose the last of our reds.

 

im going to now make a very controversial comment that is not intended to offend any one but im sure it will.

 

gray squirrles are alot like the many nationalities we have allowed to move into this country pushing out the natives taking over our cities and draining all our resources whilst we "to quote the above Learn to live with them"

 

Dead right, why can't life be more like "The Darling Bud's of May":stupid:

Edited December 7, 2012 by Le Sanglier

[Albedo]

yes we made the mistake of introducing them and it would be a far worse mistake to not make every effort to eradicate them before we lose the last of our reds.

 

im going to now make a very controversial comment that is not intended to offend any one but im sure it will.

 

gray squirrles are alot like the many nationalities we have allowed to move into this country pushing out the natives taking over our cities and draining all our resources whilst we "to quote the above Learn to live with them"

 

In 100 years time we will all be a light shade of brown and the grey squirrels will probably be orange Nobody will give a damn:001_smile:

 

Hundreds of thousands of Brit's go to Australia and introduce the winging gene to their population, tens of thousands of immigrants are re-introducing the working gene to ours.

[se7enthdevil]

at least immigrant are the same species, the gray and red squirrel are two completely different species and dont mix. long live tuffty(Sciurus vulgaris)...

[Albedo]

at least immigrant are the same species, the gray and red squirrel are two completely different species and dont mix. long live tuffty(Sciurus vulgaris)...

 

In a moment of madness I gene spliced a couple of them with an orange......Squirrel a l'orange kind of prepacked...but they escaped:001_smile: