Grey squirrels 'do not harm woodland birds in England' (1 Viewer)

[Adam W]

the greatest irony of the voles facing extinction is it is as a direct consequence of people like the one purporting to be professor acorn. animal rights activists released the mink into the wild.

Yes its stupid actions like that that show what these so called 'animal rights' activists really are, not infact animal lovers but just people haters.

 

[Apodemus]

It's too easy to bandy insults. Calling all animal rights activists "people haters" is as silly as calling conservationists "species fascists" or wildfowlers "trigger-happy bloodthirsty maniacs."

People do things for all sorts of reasons. Some we agree with, some we think are stupid, but that's the way of the world.

 

[captaincarot]

We've moved on to the serious stuff now, The Tufty Club.|=)|

that's as far as i'd read too when i posted it. i wasn't in the tufty club. but i do remember it.

 

[ChrisKten]

that's as far as i'd read too when i posted it. i wasn't in the tufty club. but i do remember it.

It's seems almost disturbing that we remember it.|=)|

Even more disturbing, I've just had another odd memory; I think there might also have been a Supercar Club. And worse still, I think that there were fights between the two clubs, which makes me wonder if there's something in my tobacco that there shouldn't be.

 

[ChrisKten]

It's too easy to bandy insults. Calling all animal rights activists "people haters" is as silly as calling conservationists "species fascists" or wildfowlers "trigger-happy bloodthirsty maniacs."

People do things for all sorts of reasons. Some we agree with, some we think are stupid, but that's the way of the world.

I see the wildfowlers got an extra 2 words.|=)|

 

[Apodemus]

But animal rights activists started with three, so it balances out.

 

[ChrisKten]

But animal rights activists started with three, so it balances out.

lol

 

[nickderry]

I was in the tufty club, we used to listen to the cassettes in the car, and I had the book where Willy Weasel and Harry Hill the Hare put fireworks in their pockets - clever animals.

First time I saw a red squirrel brought back memories of Tufty.


On the less serious topic! It would seem that some animal rights people do get rather shocked to discover that other animal lovers don't mind culling, just like some birdwatchers get shocked to find some wildfowlers go birding, eh, Adam?

 

[ChrisKten]

I was in the tufty club [...]

I bet you never imagined that one day, as an adult, that you'd be admitting that to strangers in a large forum on the Internet.

 

[Apodemus]

One thing I do mind is the misuse of the word cull. Deer are culled to reduce herd numbers down to a sustainable size, old ewes are culled to keep the flock productive.

In areas where control takes place, grey squirrels are killed, not culled, as are mink, rats or signal crayfish. The preferred outcome is eradication, which is quite different from culling.

 

[nickderry]

I bet you never imagined that one day, as an adult, that you'd be admitting that to strangers in a large forum on the Internet.

to be honest, I never imagined BEING an adult! (and I still refuse on most levels).

Mike, quite right to point out the difference - you'll forgime my misuse, as France has drained my native language from me resulting in my calling pharmacists 'pharmaticians', expression 'expressivity' and paralysis 'paralisation'.

On an aside, fallow deer aren't native are they? (or do we not know), never hear about them being on the same wanted list as muntjac, sika and chinese water.

 

[Adam W]

On the less serious topic! It would seem that some animal rights people do get rather shocked to discover that other animal lovers don't mind culling, just like some birdwatchers get shocked to find some wildfowlers go birding, eh, Adam?

A fair point but its not the same, animal lovers can support culling because they understand the benefits and reasons why its done,wildfowlers can go birding because they understand both and why they can go together but releasing mink because they dont like what people are doing to them is done because they dont like what the people are doing and their actions will actually cause more harm to animals but they dont care because they dont understand the consequences of their actions all they care about is getting at the people they dont like. If they cared about animals they wouldnt release a destructive non native species that will cause an enormous amount of harm to animals.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

One thing I do mind is the misuse of the word cull. Deer are culled to reduce herd numbers down to a sustainable size, old ewes are culled to keep the flock productive.

In areas where control takes place, grey squirrels are killed, not culled, as are mink, rats or signal crayfish. The preferred outcome is eradication, which is quite different from culling.

I would prefer the use of "eradication" or "extermination", because, as you say, "culling" implies that there will be a significant proportion of survivors, and that would not be a happy outcome.

 

[nickderry]

A fair point but its not the same, animal lovers can support culling because they understand the benefits and reasons why its done,wildfowlers can go birding because they understand both and why they can go together but releasing mink because they dont like what people are doing to them is done because they dont like what the people are doing and their actions will actually cause more harm to animals but they dont care because they dont understand the consequences of their actions all they care about is getting at the people they dont like. If they cared about animals they wouldnt release a destructive non native species that will cause an enormous amount of harm to animals.

Yes, I entirely agree with you, but some animal rights activists (and members of the general public too) don't see this, and do get shocked when they discover that animal lovers can also support eradication programmes. It's a different level of understanding that isn't obvious to all.

For example, Ruddy Duck is one of my favourite birds (and my signature is designed from it) but I do agree with their removal from Europe. (Just a little point aside - let's keep them Oxyuras to their own threads). But many people would have difficulty understanding these two seemingly conflicting ideas.

 

[Adam W]

Yes, I entirely agree with you, but some animal rights activists (and members of the general public too) don't see this, and do get shocked when they discover that animal lovers can also support eradication programmes. It's a different level of understanding that isn't obvious to all.

For example, Ruddy Duck is one of my favourite birds (and my signature is designed from it) but I do agree with their removal from Europe. (Just a little point aside - let's keep them Oxyuras to their own threads). But many people would have difficulty understanding these two seemingly conflicting ideas.

Very true.

 

[Shi Jin]

May I offer a solution:

The million or so (no idea how many really) people with shotgun licenses should be told that their license will be revoked unless they present 6 grey squirrel pelts to their local police station (12 in Norfolk) before the winter is out.

Could be a vote winner.

 

[dantheman]

Could be a vote winner.

Could well be. The bycatch (?) would probably be horrendous though ... otters, small children, pink-footed geese etc etc

 

[nickderry]

Could well be. The bycatch (?) would probably be horrendous though ... otters, small children, pink-footed geese etc etc

The Tufty club should teach the children of the dangers of people with guns, so the bycatch will be non-members, and acceptable.:gh:B o8-P

 

[Apodemus]

..you'll forgime my misuse, .......

On an aside, fallow deer aren't native are they? (or do we not know), never hear about them being on the same wanted list as muntjac, sika and chinese water.

I wasn't thinking of anyone in particular when I posted, and I'm just as guilty as anyone.

Yes, falllow deer were introduced by the Normans along with (apparently) rabbits. It seems that the longer you hang on here, the more you are accepted.

 

[Adam W]

I wasn't thinking of anyone in particular when I posted, and I'm just as guilty as anyone.

Yes, falllow deer were introduced by the Normans along with (apparently) rabbits. It seems that the longer you hang on here, the more you are accepted.

I think thats to be expected, if something hasbeen here since long before any of us were here then we accept that thats the way it is but its different if we can see the problem happening infront of us as with the squirrels.
Also i dont think rabbits are that well accecpted,they cause alot of damage and lots are killed because of it.