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'Back conservation, eat a squirrel', British lawmakers told
AFP ^ | Thu Mar 23, 2006

Posted on 03/23/2006 9:23:42 PM PST by presidio9

British politicians were urged to eat grey squirrels as part of a radical plan to prevent the indigenous red variety of the species from disappearing.

The animal, made famous by the Squirrel Nutkin character in author Beatrix Potter's illustrated children's books, once thrived in Britain but is now battling for survival as imported North American greys run rampant.

The unusual conservation method was proposed during a debate on the subject in Britain's unelected upper chamber, the House of Lords.

Lord Richard Inglewood, the patron of conservation group Red Alert North-West, which works to save red squirrel populations in Potter's native Lake District, said action was needed soon to save Squirrel Nutkin's mates from being wiped out.

"What about celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver promoting it for school dinners?" he asked.

"Indeed the House (parliamentary) authorities could put it on the menu here.

"I must confess that I have never actually eaten a grey squirrel... but I am prepared to give it a go."

Inglewood said he wanted to invite government agriculture ministers to dinner with grey squirrel on the menu.

He said there was little difference between eating squirrels and the "entirely loveable" other creatures that end up on the dinner plate.

"More importantly it's not only me that's going to feel let down. It's going to be the red squirrels too. Unless something radical and imaginative is done Squirrel Nutkin and his friends are going to be toast," he added.

The grey squirrel was introduced into Britain from North America in the late nineteenth century and has driven out the native red squirrel in many parts of the country.

They are largely responsible for the red squirrel's decline because they are stronger and more adaptable. They also carry the Squirrelpox virus, lethal to reds.

The grey population is thought to number around two million while under 200,000 reds are thought to be left, around three-quarters of them in Scotland.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: animalrights; ratswithtails; squirrels; squirrelwar
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To: Conservative Firster

Oh geez! I thought they were using real hooks for a minute there!


21 posted on 03/24/2006 1:50:25 AM PST by CheyennePress
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To: presidio9
When I studied abroad in Durham, I'd go for walks in the woods and run across these hilarious red squirrels. They are really cool little boogers. I hadn't seen a squirrel like them before. The little tufts of hair on their ears.

22 posted on 03/24/2006 1:58:15 AM PST by CheyennePress
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To: abbi_normal_2; adam_az; Alamo-Girl; Alas; alfons; alphadog; AMDG&BVMH; amom; AndreaZingg; ...
Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

updated List of Ping lists vol.III(Get Your Fresh Hot Pings Here!)


23 posted on 03/24/2006 2:03:44 AM PST by freepatriot32 (Holding you head high & voting Libertarian is better then holding your nose and voting republican)
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To: JRios1968

too funny!


24 posted on 03/24/2006 2:09:09 AM PST by the invisib1e hand (blah)
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To: freepatriot32

BTTT


25 posted on 03/24/2006 3:00:34 AM PST by E.G.C.
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To: presidio9

But they would have to be "hunted". How cruel and mean.


26 posted on 03/24/2006 3:02:09 AM PST by glorgau
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To: Brad Cloven

You forgot, this is Britain. No guns are allowed except for the high and mighty. They could care less about being paid $5 per tail.


27 posted on 03/24/2006 4:14:58 AM PST by looscnnn ("Olestra (Olean) applications causes memory leaks" PC Confusious)
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To: presidio9

try this: http://www.carrboro.com/centurycenter/squirrelheadsandgravy.html


28 posted on 03/24/2006 4:16:42 AM PST by johnandrhonda (have you hugged your banjo today?)
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To: presidio9

29 posted on 03/24/2006 4:19:30 AM PST by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: presidio9
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and eating squirrel brains
30 posted on 03/24/2006 4:21:48 AM PST by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: presidio9
Don't mess with the squirrels.

31 posted on 03/24/2006 4:31:01 AM PST by milemark (Proud to be an infidel.)
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To: presidio9

BRING IT!
32 posted on 03/24/2006 5:20:06 AM PST by SquirrelKing (Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.)
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To: gnarledmaw

Really? My mother always used to shudder at the mention of eating game, especially squirrel. When she was little (back in the 30's and early 40's) my Grandfather was injured and disabled for several years. Her oldest brother used to hunt game to keep food on the table. I guess in my Mother's recollection squirrel was the worst.


33 posted on 03/24/2006 5:33:18 AM PST by Jack of all Trades (Liberalism: replacing backbones with wishbones.)
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To: presidio9
Are You Nuts?


34 posted on 03/24/2006 5:53:42 AM PST by Rightly Biased (Valor is a Gift.Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes)
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To: presidio9
How are they going to shoot squirrels without guns?

Rhetorical question; they'll use humane traps instead, of course.

Man, what a contract!

35 posted on 03/24/2006 7:34:09 AM PST by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: presidio9

do they have a different kind of red squirrel there than we have here? in MI, red squirrels can be shot year round because they kill off any other species of squirrel.
we kill off red squirrels so they don't depopulate the fox and gray squirrels (which have much more meat on them).


36 posted on 03/24/2006 7:40:48 AM PST by absolootezer0 ("My God, why have you forsaken us.. no wait, its the liberals that have forsaken you... my bad")
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To: presidio9

A new British fad?

37 posted on 03/24/2006 7:49:41 AM PST by World'sGoneInsane (LET NO ONE BE FORGOTTEN, LET NO ONE FORGET)
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To: gnarledmaw
"Because they have less disgusting habits than a chicken and taste better? "

You are saying that rodents have less disgusting habits than birds?

38 posted on 03/24/2006 9:05:41 PM PST by de Buillion (Greater love hath no man than this, that which Shepard Smith hath for himself.)
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