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It seems they’re an endangered species in parts of North America, so maybe we can start a humane trapping programme and send them back, and get a red squirrel reintroduction programme going. 😁
Or catch them and dye them red.
I thought this was going to be about pine martens. Pine martens apparently have a significantly negative effect on gray squirrels populations because gray squirrels spend so much time on the ground, which makes them vulnerable.
In contrast red squirrels which evolved alongside pine martens spend far less time on ground.
My dogs have been attempting to contribute to this campaign for many years, to little effect.
i ran one over recently, both wheels too, 29 2.6 butchers, it ran off afterwards, but doubt it survived, sensation was awful and i still feel bad
send them back
Surely it would be much more complicated, expensive, upsetting, fruitless and then complicated and expensive again to discuss threatening to probably send (a small number of) them to Rwanda instead.
So lets do that.
The only problem round here is the spelling of grey in this thread. Maybe it's ok cos they're American 😉
Yeah I google it and apparently there's about 25,000 in the UK. Wasn't expecting to come across one in Yorkshire though.
I thought this was going to be about pine martens. Pine martens apparently have a significantly negative effect on gray squirrels populations because gray squirrels spend so much time on the ground, which makes them vulnerable.
In contrast red squirrels which evolved alongside pine martens spend far less time on ground.<br /><br />
Absolutely right, and it’s a sort of modern version of evolution in action - pine martens are appearing in various places in England and Wales, with a corresponding effect on grey squirrel populations, for the reason you mention, which pleases me greatly.
The only problem round here is the spelling of grey in this thread. Maybe it’s ok cos they’re American 😉
You noticed! It was deliberate, for that reason. 😁
A squirrel is a squirrel.
There, I’ll take issue with you - they’re different species, the greys are an artificially introduced, invasive species that carry a disease that is harmful to our native red squirrels. <br /><br />
Surely it would be much more complicated, expensive, upsetting, fruitless and then complicated and expensive again to discuss threatening to probably send (a small number of) them to Rwanda instead.
So lets do that.
Good point, maybe we could advertise them over there as an exotic culinary delicacy, and start an export drive… 😉
From experience I know that the Pine Martin’s natural prey is car electrical looms and hoses.
Casserole.
There, I’ll take issue with you – they’re different species, the greys are an artificially introduced, invasive species that carry a disease that is harmful to our native red squirrels.
Thats fine, but they are a little furry critter and lets be honest, they may well be replacing the other little furry critter, but they aren't f**g up the planet, so in the grand scheme of things have more right to survive that the entire human race, which are F**g up the planet.
Then theres the other thing. Nature - The strong survive.
Im sure int he course of history other furry or feathered or scaly creatures got here and went on to replace the other similar species which were.
Some examples
The cat
Fallow Deer
Rats, both brown and black
European bunnies - often kept as -pets here in the UK
Feral goats
Lets not forget us, whom apparently have only been on these islands for a mere 40,000 years.
And no doubt plenty more besides, have swam in, flown in or jumped ship.
Was expecting more WCA shenanigans....
the greys are an artificially introduced, invasive species that carry a disease that is harmful to our native red squirrels
You see the link here though, right? Humans. Humans introduced grey squirrels, and if you want the prominent killer of red squirrels in this country? It isn't squirrel pox, you only need to google the Squirrel Destruction Clubs that were popular in the 18th and 19th C, because they thought that red squirrels were pests. Add to that the destruction of their habitats, and the fact that grey's will out-breed them, are less picky about what they eat, and where they live, and well, natural selection will take care of the rest. Reds are dying out because they're less good squirrels than greys and we helped.
I keep reading the title as 'Gay Squirrel Population'. Might be a solution?
A Few other invasive species.
Mink
Ring neck parakeet
Various cray fish and fish.
Lots of plants particularly Japanese knot weed, giant knot weed, giant hog weed, rhododendrons.
Squirels are a minor problem
Pheasants if I released tons of invasive non native species annually I'd be prosecuted. But....
send them back
Use of small boats optional.
That reminds me to reload the trap for the winter. It worked well in the spring in preventing the normal population boom.
We've only had one family of squirrels that I have seen actually living in the woodland strip this year. So I haven't bothered reloading it after the 15 shot CO2 ran out at the start of summer.
Tell the chinese that their emperor eats grey squirrels because it makes him more virile, then we can sell them all to china, and make britain rich
"Black Squirels are common in Letchworth and even have a pub named after"
Soon to be renamed no doubt.
the greys are an artificially introduced, invasive species that carry a disease that is harmful to our native red squirrels
See also old world humans meeting new world humans.
Coming over here, taking our nuts.
👏👏👏
I have been trapping Greys in my back garden. Just north of Kinross in central Scotland. We are right on the boundary of Grey/Red dominance.
I frequently see Reds, max 3 at the same time, commonly 2 together. Currently I keep seeing one Grey too, but I am struggling to trap it. Any tips on bait gratefully received... I have been using Nutella and Peanut Butter on toast, with good effectiveness so far, but the latest Grey is not going for it.
So far I have caught and killed 8 Greys. Locally there is a push on eliminating Greys that has had some success.
At Dunkeld I have never seen a Grey, only Reds. I have seen a Pinemarten at Dunkeld, and more locally at Pitmedden. We do need more Pinemarten.
@WorldClassAccident Goodnature traps are the choice of champions, aren't they? I particularly like the bit in the instructions that explains the bodies will be removed by scavengers. Can't get the Bluetooth bit to work on mine though.
So far I have caught and killed 8 Greys. Locally there is a push on eliminating Greys that has had some success.
Oh great, lets just replicate what the 18thC almost managed to do to the red squirrel population (ie almost exterminate it), only with animals that have a different colour coat. If you want to preserve red squirrels, it would be more beneficial to plant the sorts of trees that they thrive on than kill greys, So either chop down Sitka spruce (not favoured by either species but increased by 68% as percentage change to the tree stock in Scotland) or broad leaf woodland, (great for grey squirrels and increased by 68% as a percentage of Scotland's tree cover) and plant Norwegian Spruce, Douglas Fir or European Larch instead.
Grey squirrels are just like rats, see them clinging to the bird feeders stealing the nuts
At least red squirrels taught some of us road safety, very elusive but great to see
thread needs some more pics
Why hasn't that ^^ red squirrel got tufty ears?
Looks like an imposter to me. Dyed grey squirrel probably.
The answer..? More recipes.
Here in Angus, we have both species in the same woodlands and at least Strathmore estate (the largest nearby landowner) has a policy of trapping and exterminating the greys. We are also lucky enough to have a few pine martens about and the evidence suggests that they like eating the greys. Hopefully the martens will continue to do well and breed off the supply of easier to catch meals, in larger portions, leaving the surviving reds to prosper in the higher treetops..
Red squirrels and martens are a small but evidential part of a balanced woodland & upland ecosystem, one that is ever so slowly becoming more common again. The greys muck up that balance by introducing the selective pathogen but to be fair, a few air rifle pellets have been known to help restore.
i wondererd that, i bumped into the warden on the way back and wish id asked. He did tell me she's a young mother with her first batch of kits
and a grey one too 🙂
Have to say I didn't appreciate greys until I moved to Canada. There it's all black squirrels, which at first are quite cool, then you realise they're taking over and the greys are in retreat. Reds seem even less common, at least in the sprawl around Toronto.
The best grey squirrels are Michigan greys - they're chunky things, with golden bellies. V cute
Black Squirels are common in Letchworth and even have a pub named after them.
Our running club even has them as its logo!
The pub shut 10 years ago 🙁
I keep reading the title as ‘Gay Squirrel Population’. Might be a solution?
It'd certainly reduce their fertility but the vaccine being developed to reduce grey squirrel fertility sounds more practical.
ran one over recently, both wheels too, 29 2.6 butchers, it ran off afterwards, but doubt it survived, sensation was awful and i still feel bad
I was riding when someone in his haste to overtake me and took a squirrel out on his bike.
Went back to check it and moved it onto the grass verge, felt a bit guilty on the way back when I noticed the verge had been freshly mowed. 🙁
At least red squirrels taught some of us road safety
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225877374405?hash=item34975735c5:g:Ur4AAOSwuntlD0YI
Mine stole all my sunflower seeds, but I don't mess with him; he must have a serious six pack under that fur
https://giphy.com/gifs/ghbK7TAlSNRMQ002Dc