Grey Squirrels v's birds/wildlife, so either we love them or hate them!! (1 Viewer)

[KnockerNorton]

We cannot is a big phrase. "We" disposed of Coypu: previous to that "we" disposed of Musk Rat. This is unquestionably a job for national government and there is very little that cannot be done with appropriate resourcing. National pressure on multiple aspects of life cycle is the way to get results.

John

How many coypu? A few thousand, if that? Distributed where? one small area of Nofolk? In one kind of highly restricted habitat (littoral)? Musk Rats, even less!

It's easy when there's only a few of them and we know exactly where they are, and are able to easily get at them. It's a lot harder when there are millions of them, all over the place, with plenty of refuges where you'll never get at them (gardens, suburbs).

Bullfrogs, coypus, musk rats - all specialists that were at a very low population level and hadn't become widely established. Easy.

Muntjac, mink, rabbit (>95% killed in the 50s through deliberate disease, millions shot/gassed every year; and how many do we still have today?). Add Grey Squirrel to that list of species we'll never be rid of. Once these more generalist species get widely eastablished, they're virtually impossible to remove at an acceptable cost. And probably completely impractical anyway.

 

[young ian]

So how do you stop any other rodent eating them, or the chemicals passing up the food chain? Yes, they are effective on humans, but have you seen the latest figures for human sperm counts? Have you heard what one of the prime suspects is for this dramatic fall? Synthetic hormones excreted into the environment by women taking the human contraceptive pill. Hormone treatments are a blunt tool, as hormones tend to work across a broad spectrum - you cannot make them species specific as many species use the same kind of hormones to regulate their cycles. And with Squirrels being common and also a prey species, you'd get a build-up effect in whatever eats them or the other rodents that get contaminated.


Yes, sperm count is falling. Indigenous population birth rate is falling. These
have been known facts over the last decade!!! But, we are still building
100s of 1000s new houses every year. For whom?
These ' houses' are taking over vast areas of the country side. We are
replacing one habitat with another that's much more demanding.
Think of a saucer floating in a bowl of water. Keep adding a grain
of rice to it and eventually it will sink.
This is NOT, I repeat NOT, a political statement (as some smart individuals
will try to indicate) but a fact of life that developing all around us. We are
ourselves (as a Nation) our own worst enemy.

Ever bear this in mind:-
Through lack of interest today, Tomorrow has been cancelled!

Most kindest regards,
young Ian.

 

[KnockerNorton]

So how do you stop any other rodent eating them, or the chemicals passing up the food chain? Yes, they are effective on humans, but have you seen the latest figures for human sperm counts? Have you heard what one of the prime suspects is for this dramatic fall? Synthetic hormones excreted into the environment by women taking the human contraceptive pill. Hormone treatments are a blunt tool, as hormones tend to work across a broad spectrum - you cannot make them species specific as many species use the same kind of hormones to regulate their cycles. And with Squirrels being common and also a prey species, you'd get a build-up effect in whatever eats them or the other rodents that get contaminated.


Yes, sperm count is falling. Indigenous population birth rate is falling. These
have been known facts over the last decade!!! But, we are still building
100s of 1000s new houses every year. For whom?
These ' houses' are taking over vast areas of the country side. We are
replacing one habitat with another that's much more demanding.
Think of a saucer floating in a bowl of water. Keep adding a grain
of rice to it and eventually it will sink.
This is NOT, I repeat NOT, a political statement (as some smart individuals
will try to indicate) but a fact of life that developing all around us. We are
ourselves (as a Nation) our own worst enemy.

Ever bear this in mind:-
Through lack of interest today, Tomorrow has been cancelled!

Most kindest regards,
young Ian.

and what has this got to do with Squirrels exactly? Or did you misread Squirrel for 'Immigration' or 'expansion of the EU'?

 

[young ian]

and what has this got to do with Squirrels exactly? Or did you misread Squirrel for 'Immigration' or 'expansion of the EU'?

No Poecile, I didn't misread. I just expanded on
your own statement as follows:-

Yes, they are effective on humans, but have you seen the latest figures for human sperm counts? Have you heard what one of the prime suspects is for this dramatic fall?

I was just agreeing with it.

young Ian.

 

[Farnboro John]

How many coypu? A few thousand, if that? Distributed where? one small area of Nofolk? In one kind of highly restricted habitat (littoral)? Musk Rats, even less!

It's easy when there's only a few of them and we know exactly where they are, and are able to easily get at them. It's a lot harder when there are millions of them, all over the place, with plenty of refuges where you'll never get at them (gardens, suburbs).

Bullfrogs, coypus, musk rats - all specialists that were at a very low population level and hadn't become widely established. Easy.

Muntjac, mink, rabbit (>95% killed in the 50s through deliberate disease, millions shot/gassed every year; and how many do we still have today?). Add Grey Squirrel to that list of species we'll never be rid of. Once these more generalist species get widely eastablished, they're virtually impossible to remove at an acceptable cost. And probably completely impractical anyway.

Actually gardens etc are easy places to get at squirrels, if you are not confining your attack to firearms and traps. That's where the chemical stuff comes in handy. Mobilise the masses!

As for numbers, 5 million's not so many to get rid of. History is full of examples of numbers like that being disposed of in a variety of species. Perhaps the best idea would be to popularise them as a dish, it seems to work on most species: cod and chips anyone? or would you prefer a more environmentally acceptable Grey Squirrel burger?

John

 

[turkish van]

Perhaps the best idea would be to popularise them as a dish, it seems to work on most species: cod and chips anyone? or would you prefer a more environmentally acceptable Grey Squirrel burger?

John

You might be on to something there - squirrel is surprisingly tasty

 

[KnockerNorton]

Actually gardens etc are easy places to get at squirrels, if you are not confining your attack to firearms and traps.

physically easy, yes - they have very good road access! But legally, no way, not if the owner didn't want you to. A right of entry order for someone to come in and stake out all of their squirrels would be extremely unpopular and almost certainly unworkable, so it would all have to be voluntary, and quite a lot of people are fond of their squirrels...

That's where the chemical stuff comes in handy. Mobilise the masses!

but what if the masses don't want to be mobilised? You cannot actually make them and enforce it. Otherwise we'd have been free of rats a long time ago...

As for numbers, 5 million's not so many to get rid of.

you're having a laugh, mate! The only species where numbers like that have been gotten rid of is where they are specialist species in terms of habitat, and that habitat has also been hammered, or the species breeds at low density, has low productivity and/or a slow maturation. e.g. raptors, mammal carnivors etc. Squirrels are best thought of in terms of parrallels with rats and rabbits, their fellow generalist rodents. And we've been spending vast fortunes for decades to try and remove them, with zilch overall effect. Poisons, traps, open seasons, gassings, council workers, specialist firms, farmers...

Perhaps the best idea would be to popularise them as a dish, it seems to work on most species: cod and chips anyone? or would you prefer a more environmentally acceptable Grey Squirrel burger?

John

they are already on the menu in many game cookbooks and a few restaurants. If they got really popular you'd probably have a problem with people passing off rats!

 

[Peewit]

[they are already on the menu in many game cookbooks and a few restaurants. If they got really popular you'd probably have a problem with people passing off rats![/QUOTE]

I have heard this too, Squirrels taste like chicken. Must be lean meat.

Regards
Kathy

 

[Barred Wobbler]

[they are already on the menu in many game cookbooks and a few restaurants. If they got really popular you'd probably have a problem with people passing off rats!

I have heard this too, Squirrels taste like chicken. Must be lean meat.

Regards
Kathy[/QUOTE]

Now if you'd said they taste like rabbit I'd have popped one or two in the pot. Chicken? The world's got more than enough stuff that tastes like chicken, including chicken.

 

[turkish van]

It doesn't really taste like chicken, I don't think. I've never had rabbit so I can't really compare, but I'd venture a guess it does taste more like that! Almost venisoney from what I can remember.

 

[Farnboro John]

physically easy, yes - they have very good road access! But legally, no way, not if the owner didn't want you to. A right of entry order for someone to come in and stake out all of their squirrels would be extremely unpopular and almost certainly unworkable, so it would all have to be voluntary, and quite a lot of people are fond of their squirrels...

I suggest that gardens would be a good place for putting the oral contraceptives - and if a few rats started eating those as well it would be unlikely to upset anyone! I reiterate that after a year or two of TV indoctrination most of the British public is already on-side re "Grey - bad, Red - good" and I reckon wild bird seed companies could offer a new product and get takers.


but what if the masses don't want to be mobilised? You cannot actually make them and enforce it. Otherwise we'd have been free of rats a long time ago...

True, see above.

you're having a laugh, mate! The only species where numbers like that have been gotten rid of is where they are specialist species in terms of habitat, and that habitat has also been hammered, or the species breeds at low density, has low productivity and/or a slow maturation. e.g. raptors, mammal carnivors etc. Squirrels are best thought of in terms of parrallels with rats and rabbits, their fellow generalist rodents. And we've been spending vast fortunes for decades to try and remove them, with zilch overall effect. Poisons, traps, open seasons, gassings, council workers, specialist firms, farmers...

Passenger Pigeon.......

they are already on the menu in many game cookbooks and a few restaurants. If they got really popular you'd probably have a problem with people passing off rats!

I wouldn't have a problem but I suppose you could do them as a Stargazy Pie with their little heads sticking out!

John

 

[Peewit]

I have heard this too, Squirrels taste like chicken. Must be lean meat.

Regards
Kathy

Now if you'd said they taste like rabbit I'd have popped one or two in the pot. Chicken? The world's got more than enough stuff that tastes like chicken, including chicken.[/QUOTE]

Well that would sort out the OTT Rabbit population too, along with the squirrels. I would be a coward to ever try 'squirrel' here

The dish 'surf' and 'turf' could be change into 'turf' and 'tree'. Guess what the tree is

I wouldn't have a problem but I suppose you could do them as a Stargazy Pie with their little heads sticking out!

Lovely name John sounds yummy

Turkish Van

Sorry missed you out. Yes, Rabbit might be a possibility as it is lean meat after all

Regards
Kathy

 

[Barred Wobbler]

It doesn't really taste like chicken, I don't think. I've never had rabbit so I can't really compare, but I'd venture a guess it does taste more like that! Almost venisoney from what I can remember.

Can I recommend you try rabbit at the earliest opportunity? Wild if you can get it. It's lean and above all tasty, but with a mild flavour. I've loved it all my life and last had one a fortnight ago on my birding trip to Spain where a pop around the corner to the local supermarket produced 1kg of jointed rabbit for only 6 euros, transformed with the help of some veg, garlic, wine and 45 minutes in the oven into a tasty casserole.

I don't think it's at all like venison (another favourite of mine). I think that venison tastes more like hare, with its stronger flavour.

I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at a pot of grey squirrels, a tasty way of doing my bit for the environment, I feel.:eat::t:

 

[matthall]

i am unsure whteher i would try squirrel.
i know this might sound ridiculous , but would we get the parapox virus ?
i would do anything for the environment though.

 

[Peewit]

i am unsure whteher i would try squirrel.
i know this might sound ridiculous , but would we get the parapox virus ?
i would do anything for the environment though.

Hi Matt

I do not know whether 'parapox virus' is transferrable to humans

Maybe someone here can enlighten you about this subject. :h?:

Regards
Kathy

 

[danehower]

Can I recommend you try rabbit at the earliest opportunity? Wild if you can get it. It's lean and above all tasty, but with a mild flavour. I've loved it all my life and last had one a fortnight ago on my birding trip to Spain where a pop around the corner to the local supermarket produced 1kg of jointed rabbit for only 6 euros, transformed with the help of some veg, garlic, wine and 45 minutes in the oven into a tasty casserole.

I don't think it's at all like venison (another favourite of mine). I think that venison tastes more like hare, with its stronger flavour.

I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at a pot of grey squirrels, a tasty way of doing my bit for the environment, I feel.:eat::t:

Dude - stay away from my rabbit ( scruffy-head ) ! He will kick your butt! 3

 

[Peewit]

Dude - stay away from my rabbit ( scruffy-head ) ! He will kick your butt! 3

Okay, I hang my head in shame now talking about rabbits here, as I have - sorrryy...... please forgive me (feeling guilty) :-C

Scuffyhead, is that your rabbits name? Cutey pie that he is. :hi:

More to the point is Grey Squirrel on your menu!

Just checking

Regards
Kathy

 

[danehower]

LOL Peewit, you dont have to feel guilty. I was just joking around. As for the greys, I am totaly cool with them. That said, they are native here and not anything the indigenous populations havnt delt with for hundreds of years. I am reluctant to comment on the situation in your country - but I think it is really sad about the reds - they seem like amazing critters and I understand how painfull their decline must be.

 

[Peewit]

LOL Peewit, you dont have to feel guilty. I was just joking around. As for the greys, I am totaly cool with them. That said, they are native here and not anything the indigenous populations havnt delt with for hundreds of years. I am reluctant to comment on the situation in your country - but I think it is really sad about the reds - they seem like amazing critters and I understand how painfull their decline must be.

Hi Dave

No worries I know there was a bit of leg pulling going on here. So no problems here

The reds decline is very apparent in the UK at the present. Yes, the Reds are the cutest of little critters. They are far the more attractive of the two, choosing between the greys and the Reds. Reds are native to the UK.

The black Squirrels we have here, are another rare mutation of the greys

These links will confirm some matters here

Black squirrel information close to where I stay in the UK

http://www.camptonandchicksands.org.uk/squirrel.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...article_id=366369&in_page_id=1770&expand=true

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=389833&in_page_id=1770

Information about Red Squirrels in the UK

http://squirrels.info/uk/in_uk.htm

Regards
Kathy

 

[danehower]

Peewit, were I work there is a pretty strong cluster of black squirrels. They are really beautiful. In addition we do have reds over here - but they are mostly seen in coniferous forests. It is interesting to note that the reds we have over here scare the life out of the greys. No kidding, they are some of the most ill tempered little critters you can imagine. There was a red that took up residence in my yard this late summer and he had the greys trembling. They have this 180 degree pivot that is like a bolt of lightning ( remenisent of our flying squirrels). I suppose the American reds speed and sheer cockiness keeps the greys at bay. thanks for the links - BTW in the NY times magazine there was an article about your counrtys struggle with the greys, it is a nothing you havnt heard before, but thought it was interesting how it made news over here.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/magazine/07squirrels-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

PS - "scruffy- head" is my rabbit and he is pretty cool - kind of a brat though - he likes triscuits lol - Take care - dave