Squirrels... a question

[WebleyWombler]

This is what I would say is fair enough, with a heavy heart, not use conservation as a excuse to enjoy killing something with your airgun.
I wonder how many hunter's kill with a heavy heart

There are times when pest control is carried out because it is badly needed . I wouldn't say it is carried out with a 'heavy heart' but one can indeed not like the task. One I remember was clearing about 60 feral cats out of a hospital grounds. The RSPCA had been involved but every time they set traps, some 'enlightened' animal loving hospital staff were either tripping the traps or releasing captured cats. In the end, shooting was decided to be the only realistic solution to the problem. The task was not enjoyed as 'Sport' by the 3 of us that carried out the task and it was actually hard work to achieve success.

Pests like Rats are a major health risk to humans and a predator risk to other species. They are not the easiest creatures to eradicate so if someone gets pleasure out of carrying out a job that is of benefit to the community as a whole , why not.

Grey squirrels are not only a real, introduced pest, but also are good eating so I'll take most opportunities to put healthy food in the freezer that I can. Feral pigeons are top of my pest list actually, the health risks they create and the damage they cause is greatly underestimated.

'Conservation' is only 1 of the many reasons to control pests. There are many others.

[Barryg]

There are times when pest control is carried out because it is badly needed . I wouldn't say it is carried out with a 'heavy heart' but one can indeed not like the task. One I remember was clearing about 60 feral cats out of a hospital grounds. The RSPCA had been involved but every time they set traps, some 'enlightened' animal loving hospital staff were either tripping the traps or releasing captured cats. In the end, shooting was decided to be the only realistic solution to the problem. The task was not enjoyed as 'Sport' by the 3 of us that carried out the task and it was actually hard work to achieve success.

Pests like Rats are a major health risk to humans and a predator risk to other species. They are not the easiest creatures to eradicate so if someone gets pleasure out of carrying out a job that is of benefit to the community as a whole , why not.

Grey squirrels are not only a real, introduced pest, but also are good eating so I'll take most opportunities to put healthy food in the freezer that I can. Feral pigeons are top of my pest list actually, the health risks they create and the damage they cause is greatly underestimated.

'Conservation' is only 1 of the many reasons to control pests. There are many others.

Interesting post
But talking about Eating Squirrels in the middle of a pandemic

When Doctors say some squirrels could carry Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, better known as mad-cow disease, which zombie-fies you by eating holes in your brains.

What next eating Bats

[scorpiont10]

Squirrels are simply tree Rats - if you have never witnessed the carnage they cause to our native Wildlife then you need to get out in the countryside a lot more. We have been shooting 200 ish /year for the last 3-4 years due to a dramatic decline in some bird species - finally we are seeing Nuthatches and Treecreepers returning to our 5k woodland - EVERY opportunity to shoot a grey should be taken.

[PCPShooter]

Squirrels are simply tree Rats - if you have never witnessed the carnage they cause to our native Wildlife then you need to get out in the countryside a lot more. We have been shooting 200 ish /year for the last 3-4 years due to a dramatic decline in some bird species - finally we are seeing Nuthatches and Treecreepers returning to our 5k woodland - EVERY opportunity to shoot a grey should be taken.

That’s quite a good overview that sums up why Gray Squirrels are best shot on site wherever safe and legal to do so

[mrto]

Give me a squirrel over a fat fluffy,psychopathic house cat any day,at least squirrels work for a living!

[MartynB]

finally we are seeing Nuthatches and Treecreepers returning

Used to see nuthatches in the garden, not seen one in years

[jonnyone]

Clearly hunting can be an emotive subject. Even amongst those who's common interest is shooting sports in its various forms.
Personally I respect those that prefer to use any form of weaponry for a test of their marksmanship. I too like to put myself to the test that way every so often.

When it comes to grey squirrels the point has been well made above. The grey is an invasive species. Pure and simple. No iffs, no buts. And the point has also been made it's not the only one. Man in his infinite wisdom has tinkered with nature. I think I've heard tell of Zander in our rivers, American crawfish too. I do get the point that the grey squirrels only crime is to be somewhere it's not wanted. It could not have got here on its own accord. However, now here it has become a pest. That is perhaps open to discussion and a point of view, but it is nonetheless official environmental policy.

For me I have shot grey squirrels for more years than I care to recall. Of late, my prime reason is by way of the amount of winter animal feed a local population made its way through on a local farm. But from way back I have always shot them on the basis of their threat to our own native red squirrel.
Regrettably, I fear this is perhaps a losing battle. Though it was heartening that a grey squirrel cull on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales has seen numbers of red squirrels increase in that area. And this cull was also backed by the noted and respected wildlife expert Iolo Williams. Someone who advocates for wildlife in all its forms.

So, for those who baulk at the idea of shooting a grey squirrel, from my point of view, that is perfectly fine. It really is genuinely a personal choice. However perhaps, just perhaps if we all stood on the sidelines we quite possibly could see the extinction of the native red squirrel population of this country. And by "all" I also mean the powers that be- our own government.
They tell me that way before I arrived on this mudball it was possible to see red squirrels in the south Wales valleys. Unless a miracle happens I won't get to experience that pleasure in my lifetime.
So, I do my little bit to give a helping hand to the reds. Even though it feels like swimming against a tide at times.
Dave

[ratbuster2240]

Wildlife is undoubtedly facing a tough future. Just look at the Hedgehog, in 1950 theres was around 30 million today theres around a million.

[WebleyWombler]

Interesting post
But talking about Eating Squirrels in the middle of a pandemic

When Doctors say some squirrels could carry Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, better known as mad-cow disease, which zombie-fies you by eating holes in your brains.

What next eating Bats

And squirrels could climb into your loft space, chew your wiring and burn you alive in the resulting house fire.

Not too sure about eating bats, I've eaten spiders, earthworms and ants but I think I'll take a rain check on bats until I'm desperate

Ps. Do you know the difference between PMT and BSE? the first is Mad Cow disease and the other is an agricultural problem