Great Britain: Grey squirrels on hit list (Massive cull of Greys planned to save Red Squirrels)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | January 21, 2006 | MICHAEL LEA

[Stoat]

Grey squirrels on hit list

Doomed ... grey menace
Picture: REX
 

By MICHAEL LEATHE Government is planning the slaughter of thousands of grey squirrels — risking a backlash from wildlife lovers.

The aim is to protect the rapidly dwindling stock of native red squirrels.

Rangers will poison, trap and shoot the greys to create “buffer zones” in woods.

Contraceptives may even be added to their food to curtail breeding.

The plan — to be unveiled in detail tomorrow — will also stop damage to trees, because greys love stripping bark.

Greys are also seen as pests by bird lovers because they raid nests and feeding tables.

The grey was introduced from America in the 1800s, forcing the reds to the point of extinction.

There are now just 160,000 red squirrels compared with 2.5 million greys.

Environment minister Jim Knight said they are a “serious and growing threat”.

But families who feed them in parks and gardens love them.

[tflabo]

Squirrel just a rat with a bushy tail. A daytime one.

[Stoat]

Squirrel gitter.

Nice scope  :-)

 

[LibFreeOrDie]

I thought the Brits had banned hunting?

Oh, it's OK when the GOVERNMENT does it...

[Stoat]

"George Michael's putting me where?"
 

"Kitty says leave that line alone and don't touch it with a ten-foot ANYTHING!"

[southernnorthcarolina]

Here in NC, grey squirrels are ubiquitous. Not only that, but there are a lot of 'em, too. No red squirrels, but I very occasionally see a black squirrel (less than 1/10 of 1% of the population).

I confess a grudging admiration for them. They are very adept at raiding bird feeders (I've defeated them for now, but they'll figure an angle soon, I'm sure). And they frustrate my Weimaraner, who has caught and dispatched several rabbits, but is zero-for-several thousand on squirrels.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Do they allow you to defend your property from marauding thieves in Joisey? :-)...so far, but last week the 'rats took away our right to smoke in public establishments (except AC casinos and cigar clubs) - who knows what Corzine has in store for us...........

[Stoat]

harmonica playing in the park annoys the brits too

Yes, and Jellied Eels for lunch apparently don't annoy them....go figure.

 

Cheese Soufflés British Recipes

[Stoat]

so far, but last week the 'rats took away our right to smoke in public establishments (except AC casinos and cigar clubs) - who knows what Corzine has in store for us...........
 

You certainly have my sympathy as I know full well what your future holds....here in the People's Republic of Washington they banned all smoking in public places last year, and even made it impossible to have cigar bars or any form of private club that allows smoking either.  The ONLY sort of facility outside of one's own home that one can now legally smoke in is at the casinos on the Indian reservations.

I feel the iron bootheel of Fascism pressing down upon my neck....

 

[Stoat]

Yeah good luck. Delta Force tried taking a bunch of these guys out in the Dulce Base in Dulce, New Mexico back in the late 1970s and the aliens clobbered them.

Aye, Matey, but that was 'afore God blessed us with the Daisy Cutter.   :-)

 

[Stoat]

Shoot 'em with what, spitwads???

Something tells me that Zell Miller could take care of their 'problem' singlehanded.....and I doubt that he would use spitwads   :-)

[SquirrelKing]

Thanks for the Ping. Here's the situation as we've been keeping up with things.

The situation has been a powder keg for some time. From a news source in the UK:

British Government To Supply Arms To Red Squirrels - February 18th 2004

The British Government has revealed an initiative to equip the diminishing Red Squirrel population with arms, to aid them in their fight against the Grey Squirrels. The move comes after 25 Red Squirrel refuges have sought refuge in a large coniferous forest – a habitat disliked by the Grey Squirrels.

The Government has declared that they believe that the Grey Squirrels are not just a threat to the Red Squirrels, but possibly the safety of the entire world and it is in British interests to help the Red Squirrels fight back.

The Grey Squirrel population is one of the most fundamentalist squirrel populations in the world, and are typically believed to hold strong anti Western views. Whilst the red squirrel population is also cynical where the west is concerned, the British Government hopes their more secular community will allow stronger diplomatic ties to develop in the future.

Although the Grey Squirrel’s are currently dominating the Red/Grey conflict, the Red Squirrels are still in control of most of the nuts – one of the largest nut resources in the world – but the Government denies that nuts have anything to do with the conflict. The government insists that it has not made any trade deals concerning the exportation of nuts and that the Red Squirrels will have complete control of them as they are essential for securing their future economical development.

Many diplomats are outraged at the British Government’s actions, claiming they are meddling in a very delicate situation. They also believe that if the Red Squirrels do triumph over the Grey Squirrels are likely to try and expand their army, possibly taking on the Badger community to the south of them, to try and get control of the Badger’s nuts. Given the strong alliance between the British and the Badgers this would mean that the British would be forced into defending the Badgers, meaning the British would be at war with an army they had just equipped.

The Government has shaken off such notions as they believe they are far too ludicrous to transpire.

There is much taunting going on:

[null and void]

ping

[null and void]

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

Didn't there used to be a candy called squirrel nut?

[NapkinUser]

All Squirrels Must Die!

[BobS]

How about just gettin a kitty or two? They don't like squirrels.

[Thinkin' Gal]

[NapkinUser]

"How about just gettin a kitty or two? They don't like squirrels."

Louie the ocicat retrieves a red fox squirrel from a cork oak tree at his California home. Another tree rat goes to the big acorn in the sky. Louie is a rodent's worst nightmare.

[Fire_on_High]

Is he yours?? He's gorgeous!

[Atchafalaya]

Grey (cat) squirrels will take over any range they are allowed to. If one employes some time, firearms, and a sharp blade a squirrel sauce piquante will tend to keep the herd in check and make for great company. As a matter of fact I'm going to get some next Thurs.AM. The little grey prics are really moving the Fox squirrels out. A two Rotel can hunt!