Will we and Chris Packham and Co. agree about grey squirrels?

[Danllan]

It looks like there will be a national effort to feed oral contraceptives to grey squirrels. Native red squirrels don't do anywhere near as much damage and, of course, evolved alongside our native trees; once the greys are down and when the reds are once again widespread it will be interesting to see the difference in our national forest.

Seems a good idea and it's hard to see anyone raising serious arguments against it - but, I'm minded that some years ago one campaign to eradicate grey squirrels was labelled as 'racist'...

UK government backs birth control for grey squirrels - BBC News

 

[M-J-G]

Wasn't there talk about doing this with rats.
But I guess it wouldn't be very profitable for the manufacturers in the long-term if they were all wiped out.

 

[yellow belly]

Just trap them
although one off sterilisation may be more effective with out killing them

 

[steveR]

Last year, it tested special feeding stations designed so only grey squirrels can gain access in woodland in East Yorkshire.

Maybe something other than contraceptive...? Baiting stations work well for trapping and shooting as well...

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

A mixture of both methods of control would really help.
The Greys are incredibly clever and have probably proved Darwins theory better than any other species and in the shortest time that I can remember.
When I was young we used to spend every late winter with poles poking them out of their Drays, but now they all live in holes in trees so cannot be shot that way.
They also no longer hibernate, at least not round here as they seem to be out even when it is really cold.

The Reds though are very susceptible to disease and the reason for this is that genetically they are all interrelated.
Work that has been done on British Reds has shown they have the smallest DNA code of any mammal. Fortunately the European Reds seem to have bred differently and may help to make the native breed more resilient if allowed to introduce them.
I believe the virus which they catch from the Greys that kills them is a very similar to Polio.

 

[lloyd]

Went to see red squirrels at Brownsea island the largest of islands In Poole harbour
the county of Dorset a couple of years ago .
Walked around for a couple of hours with the wife and kids ,no visible red squirrels
but plenty of people and litter .If that's supposed to be a popular place for them
then they've got a long way to go before they're commonplace.

 

[steveR]

The Greys are incredibly clever and have probably proved Darwins theory better than any other species and in the shortest time that I can remember.
When I was young we used to spend every late winter with poles poking them out of their Drays, but now they all live in holes in trees so cannot be shot that way.
They also no longer hibernate, at least not round here as they seem to be out even when it is really cold.

I suspect that the fact they can get feed from around bird feeders 24/7/ 365 allows then to no longer need to hibernate, and of course, the early breeders will get a head start come Spring. Last Summer, my daughter was WfH and kept an air rifle to hand at all times, and the bedroom window open. 10-12 I think under the bird feeder.

The dart into holes in a tree is so frustrating, even when you know where they are heading... and God does it annoy the Labs when they disappear

Baiting is without a doubt the secret to control. Whether administering a drug will work.....??

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I wanted to plant a hedge (via a glastir grant), I was told that option was not available in the field I wanted to because of NRW (Natural Resources Wales), I emailed them to ask why, they said that Brechfa Forest is a Red Squirrel area, and they did not want connectivity within I Km to allow Greys to migrate into the forest.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Planted it anyway (with a grant from Western Power), well in the process of planting it at the moment, all double fenced and about 1/4 of the whips so far.

 

[CPF]

He's on Zoe Ball radio 2 show tomorrow
I will not be turning Zoe ball on tomorrow (that sounds bad)

 

[Steevo]

Imagine if they could release a squirrel-to-squirrel transmissible respiratory virus to control the population...

 

[Secret Agronomist]

Just trap them
although one off sterilisation may be more effective with out killing them

We are in a scheme for this, its made a huge difference to the reds.

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

We are in a scheme for this, its made a huge difference to the reds.

What is the most effective grey squirrel trap?

 

[Bald Rick]

Can I just point out that the Sainted Isle have got rid of our greys (squirrels that is, not incomer retirees) whilst we still had a rump red (squirrel that is not commies) population about 10 years ago. Now it is not unusual to see the odd red in wooded areas. We even have rope "bridges" across well populated roads for them.
Parapox is a worry though with the odd case cropping up.
That, and our bridges leaving us vulnerable to colonisation by the damned Yankees (squirrels that is not Americans) again

Squirrels Map - Red Squirrels Trust Wales |

www.redsquirrels.info

 

[deleted user 837354]

I do not agree with pumping the environment with hormones or drugs or anything else for reasons of pest control. If you want to control squirrel numbers, trap or shoot them. These methods have been proven to work for decades in the control of many many species.

 

[Secret Agronomist]

What is the most effective grey squirrel trap?

I can find out, I'm not involved in it myself but its a scotgov thing

 

[Optimus]

We have a healthy red population around us.you'd be hard pushed to find any greys.

 

[steveR]

We are in a scheme for this, its made a huge difference to the reds.

 

[steveR]

I do not agree with pumping the environment with hormones or drugs or anything else for reasons of pest control. If you want to control squirrel numbers, trap or shoot them. These methods have been proven to work for decades in the control of many many species.

But the culling of animals does not sit well with our largely urban population, especially the Londoners who adore the little grey rats in their Parks!! And those hooked up to their weekly dose of Kwis or Countryfile...

 

[Danllan]

I do not agree with pumping the environment with hormones or drugs or anything else for reasons of pest control. If you want to control squirrel numbers, trap or shoot them. These methods have been proven to work for decades in the control of many many species.

And proven not to work for decades in the control of grey squirrels.

What is the most effective grey squirrel trap?

We have had a lot of success with Kania traps, but we have no reds to worry about here, yet.