Grey Squirrels.

[Shadow Man]

Just watching The One show about the horrors of the Grey Squirrel.

I know the history and the way they have virtually wiped out the Red Squirrel.

Personally, I think Grey Squirrels are amazingly resourcful and a very attractive animal to watch. I have the odd one coming on to my land and cheekily take my bird nuts.

And I think their general cuteness is a valuable tool to teach children the wonders of British Wildlife.

Am I alone in my admiration of Grey Squirrels?

[puddicat]

no shadow you arent alone, have a grey squirrel that comes into my garden regularly, my cat is fascinated,have some woods that a couple of red squirrels seem to have there home, but otherwise the grey rules ajnd they are in abundance at this time, seen a couple of young uns sitting in the middle of a roundabout!!

[honky-tonk]

living next to woodland area they frequently visit my garden digging up the lawn and also potted plants to bury acorns and nuts but i do find them amusing to watch .

[paddywak]

Greys are nothing but vermin, puddicat if you're lucky enough to have some reds nearby, buy a gun and shoot the greys or you will not have the reds about for very long

[amsterdammer]

My Staffy loves them! She caught 2 last week, but what can you do?

[smudge]

We have a family of grey squirrels who visit our garden & although they've dug up some of my pots & try to knock the birds feeders off the trees, I still enjoy watching ther antics.

Our kitten's just started going out in the garden & a baby squirrel was sitting on a branch staring at her - it was a stand off for quite a whlie, before Milly chased it away!

I could never harm them Wardy!

[Kleiber]

Sorry, folks, but I agree with Paddywak. We call them "The North American Tree Rat", because that's what they are. They're cute to look at, but they are vermin - destructive and a menace to indigenous wildlife. Like mink.

[s10driver]

But mighty tasty.

[jedimistress]

I love them. They are graceful, elegant and I have a few in the oak tree outside my window which I love to watch. My dog also likes to chase them but isn't very good at it.

I have to laugh at the stupid humans who talk about destroying pests. If they truly think that then why don't they kill themselves as they are the biggest pest and scurge on this poor planet.

[jedimistress]

Ha ha.

[Ethel]

I hope you are laughing at the spectacle of them taking the eggs from the nests of native birds too. And eating the young chicks.

Highly amusing.

The spotted flycatcher is in danger of extinction because of this squirrel, as one example.

If the grey squirrel was native it would be more acceptable - part of the balance of nature, but we have plentiful native predators without introducing more.

[jedimistress]

I'm only saying I like them, as I like all animals. They just live their life unaware they are a pest. How did they come to be here in the first place?

I just don't like the human hypocrisy. We are aware we are pests but seem to do very little about it. We have caused the extinction of loads of animals due to greed, and will continue to do so. Why pick on the squirrel?

And instead of moaning about it, why don't people get down their local BTCV or Woodland Trust and do something constructive to help? Getting the gun out and exterminating things isn't exactly ideal.

[smudge]

Ethel - I do understand what you're saying & my husband's sentiments on the grey squirrel is the same as yours & although he has guns, he wouldn't shoot them as he knows I''d never forgive him!

I think jedi & I have similar thoughts about these creatures. They're not aware of their actions & don't all deserve to be killed.

I don't like irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to crap on pavements & in parks, etc., but I wouldn't want to shoot them all.

[Ethel]

Jedi - I am no longer fit and able but am very active in conservation and education of local habitat and fauna, support the RSPB as much as I can and do as much as I can rather than just moan.

[paddywak]

How did they get here? Yet another case of man interfering with nature, with out thinking of the consequences. It is not known for certain who first introduced in the late 1800 but no doubt they thought they were cute and would like nice,
another similar case, but wiyh more serious resukts was that of Thomas Austin who was an avid hunter. In 1859 he introduced 24 rabbits to his Australian estate, and we all know what happened there. I've nothing against Greys in there own natural habbitat, but it is not HERE It merely underlines the fact that people should think twice before interfering with nature

[andrea81]

You're not alone. I know it's very sad that the Red Squirrel are becoming wiped out, but isn't this all just a part of nature. I think by trying to trap them and wipe the grey out, we're sending the wrong messages to children!

They are amazing animals and to try to focus on eradicating them, just seems so agains nature!

[Ethel]

andrea81 - it would be 'part of nature' if the grey squirrel was native to this country. It isn't. It would have had no way of getting here had it not been brought in from the USA a little over 100 years ago.

It shouldn't be here, just as we shouldn't have wild mink - a hugely destructive animal.

[bensmum]

I have nothing against squirrels but it does annoy me that people hate rats but if you stick a bushy tail on it and call it a squirrel they think they're cute.
I live in the country and back on to fieldsand woods so I see squirrels, rats, rabbits, foxes and all sorts of "vermin" but if they don't bother me then I don't bother them.
And where do you stop? It could be argued that birds eat the young of our native insect life but again people don't seem bothered by that.
I love watching them all!

[shivvy]

I didn't see the programme but I know that the greys are accused of killing off the reds.
How do they do this? Is it a matter of them actually attacking the reds? Are they in competition for the same food source? Or is it some other reason?