Squirrel Wars: Red vs Grey

[Stewy]

Programme on tonight C4 7.35pm

"Documentary about hunter and licensed pest-control officer Paul Parker, who is funded by the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership to rid Northumberland of its grey squirrel population. Wearing a camouflage jacket and armed with a rifle and a few traps, this one-man elimination team has 1.2million acres to protect. Part of the First Cut strand"

Not sure that tufftie should watch this though...............

[Kayleigh]

Thank god...

When I read the title I thought it was another thread that's been flogged to death just like the cat threads..
Hope this don't turn into one I don't get involved..

Not sure I want to watch the program though I doubt it will make any difference to the red population..

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I doubt it will make any difference to the red population..

Probably not but might be interesting all the same.

[Hedge Witch]

Sounds very interesting Stewy, I'll set it to record. Thanks.

[tufftie]

Agree with you Elaine it will make no difference to the red population at all. I also agree with you Stewy...if not for another reason that Jez hasn't yet seen me with steam coming from my nostrils, ears and everywhere else!

Not wanting to retread old ground will give a rough explanation but if anyone wants an in depth version head towards the end of an old and very long thread called the red v grey squirrel debate

Greys are not the only animals to spread pox - it's now a known zoonose - all rodents pass it on as do cats and humans. Reds are more arboreal than greys and needs conifers in seed on an annual basis to survive. They also need more space per squirrel than greys. All rodents over compensate to culling (see info on paper on thread mentioned above for details) - so culling greys means that they will produce more young; thus culling is useless for this reason. Culling purely maintains a given number of animals. To sort out the situation we need to find out why reds to not recover from disease and also find a way to irradicate the pox virus. We also need to provide them with better habitat together with habitat corridors to ensure a viable population.

Gosh this was quite short for me

[willing to learn]

Its not just the spread of pox, greys destroy other native wildlife something to keep in mind.
Regards
Colin

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Its not just the spread of pox, greys destroy other native wildlife something to keep in mind.
Regards
Colin

If reds were here and no greys the same thing would happen - that's why there were red squirrel hunting clubs. I don't want to repeat myself so look at old thread mentioned above for more detailed information. (this isn't me being rude - just it's a subject that has been well chomped over!)

[NickCantle]

I think that Stewy was flagging up a television programme, not providing grounds for more inconclusive bickering

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I think that Stewy was flagging up a television programme, not providing grounds for more inconclusive bickering

You don't say!!! However it's a thread and as such is open for discussion Also why I keep referring back to the old squirrel thread!

[Stewy]

Well, that was a load of rubbish!!!