Grey Squirrel

[Mr Speckler]

Is there any sympathy out there for the Grey?

Hi,
I am asking this question because I feel up against the world. I am so tired of fighting with "wild life lovers" who want to extinct this animal.

I know it has a bad press. I am capable and have put up good fights in the past. What depresses me is that so many wildlife enthusiasts see nothing wrong in a little killing.

I am in the south, there are no Reds here and reintroduction is not an option. I would love to have red squirrels but it isn't going to happen.

So I ask the question here, is it just me and Squiz against the world? Feels that way.

Can anyone else see them?

Colin

[Dan Salter]

Its all down to nativeness im afraid.

granted there are other introduced foreign non natives here in England and some are fine as they have no negative effect on our native species or ecosystems.

This can definitely not be said for the Grey Squirrel though.

Over sexed, Over weight and over here.....or something like that?

Lets put it into perspective....supposing say... you had 30 human children (one species) in a nursery school in england...and lets say a troupe of chimps (a seperate species) from America got in to the nursery and ate all your childrens cookies and drank all their milk and pushed them off their little seats so they couldnt stay there or eat.....im sure you and many other parents would do your damdest to get those chimps out of there right? or would you just say......awww the chimps are so cute too...lets feed them, let them stay here and sod our own kids?.....hmmmm.

This is quite possibly the best thing i have ever written and im doing a degree! i may publish this work of art ha ha

[Mr Speckler]

Hi Commander,

No worries, I didn't want to start a grey V red debate, pretty sure I know that one. Just wondered if you were all psychopathic killers, or maybe not.

Put your hand on the fur and feel the heartbeat. Next step is up to you.

I have done the argument so many times I am fed up with it. It is on my blog, specifically here It's Alive!: Grey Squirrel This is not an advert, you are not welcome if you have a gun in your hand, it's a family blog.

I am old and not very good at getting my message across. I don't have much diplomacy. Could use help from someone skilled in these arts.

And big Dan the Nature Nazi. Thanks for replying.
Speckler

[SquirrelFan]

Originally Posted by Mr Speckler

I have done the argument so many times I am fed up with it. It is on my blog, specifically here It's Alive!: Grey Squirrel This is not an advert, you are not welcome if you have a gun in your hand, it's a family blog.

I am old and not very good at getting my message across. I don't have much diplomacy. Could use help from someone skilled in these arts.

And big Dan the Nature Nazi. Thanks for replying.
Speckler

I'm with you. I love grey squirrels I feed them every day at the park. I get so much pleasure just watching them playing or burying their food or whatever. Greys have been here over 100 years. I think that gives them a right to live here. They haven't committed any crimes. I've never seen any firm evidence of them having a detrimental effect on the environment. All I see are baseless rants like 'they killed all the reds' or something. A lot of the ranting seems to just be man wanting to blame others for his own mistakes. I suggest the domestic dog is far more of a danger. They are mainly non-native. They seriously injure 100's of people every year. Their excrement is everywhere which, besides being a nuisance, can be dangerous. And of course their urine harms trees. But everybody seems to ignore this and say 'dogs are wonderful'! Too many people expect nature to to fit in with their life, and if it doesn't they want to destroy it!

And I like your blog. There are some nice pictures. I've bookmarked it and hope you keep updating it.

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Its all down to nativeness im afraid.
...
Over sexed, Over weight and over here.....or something like that?

Lets put it into perspective....supposing say... you had 30 human children (one species) in a nursery school in england...and lets say a troupe of chimps (a seperate species) from America got in to the nursery and ate all your childrens cookies and drank all their milk and pushed them off their little seats so they couldnt stay there or eat.....im sure you and many other parents would do your damdest to get those chimps out of there right? or would you just say......awww the chimps are so cute too...lets feed them, let them stay here and sod our own kids?.....hmmmm.

This is quite possibly the best thing i have ever written and im doing a degree! i may publish this work of art ha ha

What? Have you been on those hallucinogenic drugs again

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by SquirrelFan

I'm with you. I love grey squirrels I feed them every day at the park. I get so much pleasure just watching them playing or burying their food or whatever. Greys have been here over 100 years. I think that gives them a right to live here. They haven't committed any crimes. I've never seen any firm evidence of them having a detrimental effect on the environment. All I see are baseless rants like 'they killed all the reds' or something. A lot of the ranting seems to just be man wanting to blame others for his own mistakes. I suggest the domestic dog is far more of a danger. They are mainly non-native. They seriously injure 100's of people every year. Their excrement is everywhere which, besides being a nuisance, can be dangerous. And of course their urine harms trees. But everybody seems to ignore this and say 'dogs are wonderful'! Too many people expect nature to to fit in with their life, and if it doesn't they want to destroy it!

And I like your blog. There are some nice pictures. I've bookmarked it and hope you keep updating it.



What? Have you been on those hallucinogenic drugs again

Nice to see a well balanced approach...

[Mr Speckler]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Nice to see a well balanced approach...

That's cool mate, silence speaks volumes.

Sorry Squirrelfan but I have three dogs. They have taught me something...

When you step into something unsavoury, step out of it again.

See You, natural born nature nazi's.

Damned disappointing but that's life.
Speckler

[Kayleigh]

Well here is my opinion on the grey...I do prefer the reds they are our native squirrel after all but I do like the greys.
But I think the reds that are left do need protecting or we will loose them so where reds have a strong hold keep the greys away..But everywhere else leave them alone.
Once a species is introduced it is almost impossible to turn the clock back.
I know a country park is inundated with rats and greys and they have experienced a drop in bird numbers.

If a grey squirrel came into my garden he would be welcome but not if I got reds..

[Mr Speckler]

Hi Kayleigh,

Sorry, I told you I had no diplomat skills. There are no Red Squirrels in my patch, and we can't reintroduce them. I would so love to have them here.

There is a drive to kill the greys to benefit the reds. People jump on that bandwagon. There is no reason for any killing here.

I try to stop them.

Speckler Alone (That's how I feel)

[SquirrelFan]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Well here is my opinion on the grey...I do prefer the reds they are our native squirrel after all but I do like the greys.
But I think the reds that are left do need protecting or we will loose them so where reds have a strong hold keep the greys away..But everywhere else leave them alone.
Once a species is introduced it is almost impossible to turn the clock back.
I know a country park is inundated with rats and greys and they have experienced a drop in bird numbers.

If a grey squirrel came into my garden he would be welcome but not if I got reds..

You don't know if the drop in bird numbers is due to squirrels. The RSPB report on predation suggests otherwise. And again dogs are not blameless.

And if recent findings of reds building immunity to the pox virus through contact with greys proves true, those animal-loving self-righteous murderers in the north will, by trying to 'engineer' nature, actually be sentencing them to death. Another victory for mankind!

[Jez]

I'll stick up for the Grey's. Could the reason they get such bad press is all to do with the subconscious mind! Ever watch Trigger Happy TV? Yep all greys up to no good. Surely if Dom & his gang did the same troublesome acts in red squirrel costumes, We may just have a different view?!? Okay So the Grey's aren't native, not so sure about the reds also, but I'm not native either like most people born here in Britain. So who am I to say what should & should not live here. The Grey's were here before I was & I have watched them in awe for as long as I can remember! It will be a shame if the reds go, but then, better coniferous management & habitat, which is what the red's prefer, should be insured I guess?!

Cheers

Jez