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Majority of the population support grey squirrel cull

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Published Date: 10 March 2009
By Jenny Haworth
ALMOST seven out of ten people think grey squirrels should be controlled in the UK, according to a survey.
The poll showed 69 per cent of people thought the grey squirrel should be controlled in order to help protect the native red from extinction.

The survey, commissioned by the European Squirrel Initiative, revealed 75 per cent of people were aware of the damage the grey squirrel was doing, and the threat it posed to reds.

The grey squirrel, which originally came from America, competes with the UK's native red.

The invasive species also carries a pox that is deadly to the red squirrel but leaves their American cousins unharmed.

Miles Barne , chairman of the Initiative, said: "These are encouraging results and show the high awareness and recognition of the threat posed by the grey squirrel.

"It is also encouraging to see that there is a real demand amongst the public to control the grey squirrel in some way to protect our native red."

The survey was carried out by NEMS Market Research.

Scotland is one of the last remaining strongholds for red squirrels in the UK.

A controversial programme to cull the greys is starting in Scotland.



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 09 March 2009 9:52 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Squirrels
 
1

Daft Old Git,

10/03/2009 01:03:29
Animal racism. That's how the Nazis started
2

drunken proffet,

Tassy 10/03/2009 07:05:43
Totally weird, a majority of the population wants to cull grey squirrels, but no one wants to bring back the belt, cane or birch to try and bring some purpose in life to your average OAP. OK, you have me convinced. I will refrain from trying to cull the wee b*g*ers and instead concentrate on grey squirrels.
3

Boy Wonder,

10/03/2009 09:47:41
American Grey Squirrels ... over here, over large and over the native Red's dead body!!!

Imminent Death to the Invaders! Destroy the Greys! Let them have England!!! :D
4

Selgovae,

10/03/2009 09:50:54
"Scotland is one of the last remaining strongholds for red squirrels in the UK."

The other remaining strongholds wouldn't be England, Wales and Northern ireland, would they?
5

Slioch,

Scottish Highlands 10/03/2009 10:37:05
#4 Selgovae asked, "The other remaining strongholds wouldn't be England, Wales and Northern ireland, would they?"

Answer: "No."
6

Selgovae,

10/03/2009 10:56:10
#5 Slioch

My comment was on the strange wording of the original sentence. We're led to conclude that at least half the countries of the UK are strongholds for red squirrels. I was hoping for a more useful description.

About 75% of the Great Britain's red squirrel population is in Scotland. However, I've read that the red squirrel population is still widespread in Ireland.
7

sam the god,

10/03/2009 11:16:24
At least I am doing my bit to get rid of the grey’s what are you doing?
8

Angus,

Alexandria 10/03/2009 11:26:26
Reply to

Dear Mr Macdonald

Thank you for your quick response to my Freedom of Information request.

Looking at different approaches is not solving the immediate problem It is clear from what you say that SNH is aware of the cruelty but stiil intends to kill lactating mothers all year round. No matter what approaches are adopted, the unimaginable cruelty of allowing baby grey squirrels to endure a lingering death from starvation will persist.

As you know, grey squirrels mate from December to February and again in March to May, gestation takes up to 44 days and the young usually weaned short of three months. This means that any time between mid January and mid October lactating females will be feeding their kittens and if females are shot or trapped and killed during this period there is no doubt that many thousands of kittens could starve to death in their dreys.

I agree with you that grey squirrels can recolonise areas within a month of control being stopped which means, apart from the cruelty issue, the whole idea of culling is an ad infintum commitment and a complete waste of time and taxpayers' money.

Not knowing the number of lactating females or dependent kittens is no excuse for deliberately allowing baby squirrels to starve to death in their dreys. Across Scotland the number could run into thousands. This is state sponsored cruelty on a massive scale!

I put it to you, that the only way to prevent this cruel treatment of baby squirrels is to stop killing lactating mothers between mid January and October. There is no other way.

Why should I need to tell SNH that? You know already!

Yours sincerely

Angus Macmillan.


In a message dated 09/03/2009 15:12:55 GMT Standard Time, Ron.Macdonald@snh.gov.uk writes:
Dear Mr Macmillan

Your email to David Bale has been passed to me to respond to as I jointly Chair the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels Project.

In response to the concerns you raise, I wish to let you kno
9

Angus,

Alexandria 10/03/2009 11:27:46
Continued?

Dear Mr Macdonald

Thank you for your quick response to my Freedom of Information request.

Looking at different approaches is not solving the immediate problem It is clear from what you say that SNH is aware of the cruelty but stiil intends to kill lactating mothers all year round. No matter what approaches are adopted, the unimaginable cruelty of allowing baby grey squirrels to endure a lingering death from starvation will persist.

As you know, grey squirrels mate from December to February and again in March to May, gestation takes up to 44 days and the young usually weaned short of three months. This means that any time between mid January and mid October lactating females will be feeding their kittens and if females are shot or trapped and killed during this period there is no doubt that many thousands of kittens could starve to death in their dreys.

I agree with you that grey squirrels can recolonise areas within a month of control being stopped which means, apart from the cruelty issue, the whole idea of culling is an ad infintum commitment and a complete waste of time and taxpayers' money.

Not knowing the number of lactating females or dependent kittens is no excuse for deliberately allowing baby squirrels to starve to death in their dreys. Across Scotland the number could run into thousands. This is state sponsored cruelty on a massive scale!

I put it to you, that the only way to prevent this cruel treatment of baby squirrels is to stop killing lactating mothers between mid January and October. There is no other way.

Why should I need to tell SNH that? You know already!

Yours sincerely

Angus Macmillan.


In a message dated 09/03/2009 15:12:55 GMT Standard Time, Ron.Macdonald@snh.gov.uk writes:
Dear Mr Macmillan

Your email to David Bale has been passed to me to respond to as I jointly Chair the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels Project.

In response to the concerns you raise, I wish to let you kn
10

Angus,

Alexandria 10/03/2009 11:29:57
Sorry for posting the above twice. Hopefully it will work this time
Continued/

In response to the concerns you raise, I wish to let you know that the Project is looking at different approaches that will minimise the extent to which lactating grey squirrels are killed. This may include carrying out more intensive control prior to the main breeding season thereby reducing the need for such intensive control when there are lactating females at risk. It is, however, unlikely to remove the need for this completely as Grey squirrels are very successful colonisers as is shown by the rate at which they have spread throughout the UK. Studies have shown that they can re-colonise areas within a month of control being stopped, which means that we need to keep up control all year if we are to suppress the population. Unfortunately this currently includes the entire breeding season.

At present we don't know how many females with dependent young are involved or whether there are identifiable periods of greater risk. The project will investigate this as well as trying to find new ways to tackle the issues.

Yours sincerely

Ron Macdonald
SNH Head of Policy & Advice

11

Angus,

Alexandria 10/03/2009 11:32:36
My Freedom of Information request was:

Freedom of Information request

There is a serious animal welfare issue that should be laid at the door of government bodies and red squirrel conservationists in respect of culling female grey squirrels by trapping or shooting.

Grey squirrels mate from December to February and again in March to May. Gestation takes up to 44 days and the young usually weaned short of three months. Cage traps indiscriminately catch squirrels of either sex and it is unlawful to release a grey squirrel once it has been caught.

Between January and October lactating females will be shot or caught and killed, leaving their kittens to a lingering death by starvation in their dreys. Locating the kittens can be extremely difficult as dreys can be in a variety of obscure and relatively inaccessible places quite a distance from where the traps are positioned.

Our question is:

What steps is Scottish Natural Heritage taking to ensure that baby grey squirrels are not subjected to a lingering death by starvation when their mothers are shot or trapped and killed?
12

Slioch,

Scottish Highlands 10/03/2009 12:02:31
#6 Selgovae

Arrh, right. Sorry. I see what you were getting at. I thought it was an unusually daft comment for you, but in fact you were picking up a poor bit of wording that I had missed. Cheers.
13

sam the god,

10/03/2009 12:44:31
they make a good stew all year round

 

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