Blasted squirrels
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Neh, shooting and trapping is never going to work - the research is all about contraception which stands a chance. But, but, but - we need to be sure it doesn't enter the food chain, is not picked up by and affect other species etc. hence the research.
Everything should be taken with one shot - if you can't kill with one shot don't shoot!
If they taste OK, I'd use the resource in a sustained yield sort of a way.
.22cal pellets and bullets would seem the best dispatch.
Who might you have for competition? Foxes? Ravens?
.22cal pellets and bullets would seem the best dispatch.
Who might you have for competition? Foxes? Ravens?
There's very little that takes a grey squirrel. Buzzards (note Buteo buteo not vultures 
) are too slow and the only tree dwelling predators are pine martens that are very rare.
The young are taken by crows, ravens and larger birds of prey but the adults are left alone. I know a falconer that has two Harris Hawks that won't go near grey squirrels
) are too slow and the only tree dwelling predators are pine martens that are very rare.The young are taken by crows, ravens and larger birds of prey but the adults are left alone. I know a falconer that has two Harris Hawks that won't go near grey squirrels
Yes, they taste very good. A bit chewy, but taste excellent.
How many sets of hind quarters would make a reasonable meal with other stuff?
I keep coming back to the idea of a nice curry cream sauce or a stir fry with veg.
I think I could feed the birds again and snare the resident squirrel but my enthusiasm has gone out with the tide.
Squirrels have never been common here, that I've noticed. I don't go into the forests
more than 5-7 times per grouse season like I used to. To see a squirrel is luck.
Same goes for out "bush-bunny" rabbits.
I keep coming back to the idea of a nice curry cream sauce or a stir fry with veg.
I think I could feed the birds again and snare the resident squirrel but my enthusiasm has gone out with the tide.
Squirrels have never been common here, that I've noticed. I don't go into the forests
more than 5-7 times per grouse season like I used to. To see a squirrel is luck.
Same goes for out "bush-bunny" rabbits.
To be honest, depending on your appetite, I only do two per person if they're full grown, especially in a curry when I may make a vegetable curry side-dish. However, the younger ones are easier (less time) to cook.
You can do anything you can do with chicken or rabbit. I do squirrel satay, squirrel korma, squirrel biriyani and include them in mixed game pie. They can usually benefit from a little simmering to tenderise the meat. Stir fry would only work with the youngsters.
You can do anything you can do with chicken or rabbit. I do squirrel satay, squirrel korma, squirrel biriyani and include them in mixed game pie. They can usually benefit from a little simmering to tenderise the meat. Stir fry would only work with the youngsters.
Contraception?
They need to find a vehicle for the medication only the Greys eat. Will not be easy.
I think the Greys will stay for the rest of times.
Harvest them like a crop. Take off the excess population.
True, your first cold shot has to be the winner.
That makes for a relief in the competition for resources.
Maybe survivorship goes up a little, mortality during the life span goes down a little.
Sure would be fun to be able to go out, say quarterly, and have a bit of a shoot.
Sell the tails to the arts crowd for paleo paint brushes. They do work rather well.
True, your first cold shot has to be the winner.
That makes for a relief in the competition for resources.
Maybe survivorship goes up a little, mortality during the life span goes down a little.
Sure would be fun to be able to go out, say quarterly, and have a bit of a shoot.
Sell the tails to the arts crowd for paleo paint brushes. They do work rather well.
I used to make flies (as in fly fishing) with squirrel tail - the black, grey and white is very effective.
There's very little that takes a grey squirrel. Buzzards (note Buteo buteo not vultures
The young are taken by crows, ravens and larger birds of prey but the adults are left alone. I know a falconer that has two Harris Hawks that won't go near grey squirrels
Round here the cats take the young squirrels, if they can get past Mama. So do the magpies, but again, only if they can get past Mama.
I know a tree surgeon who was 50' up a tree when he suddenly, "had a face full of squirrel", and realised that her drey was in the fork where he was about to put his boot.
My son once had one turn and run at him when he (my son) had a shotgun in his hand! They're feisty little devils; you've got to admire their attitude
No, and you have, I find the propsect most unappealing. I'd rather eat the nuts before the squirrels get them
I prefer most of my vegetables processed into an animal, that's how I get my five a day.
Ah, Graham once said, "Never mind five a day; camping with Toddy it's five at every meal", and then made quiet comment about 'regularity'
Educate cullers, license them, pay thrm £5 a piece.
That is what has bern done here, and today it is reported they have culled just over 250 000 .
Culling works.
That is what has bern done here, and today it is reported they have culled just over 250 000 .
Culling works.
A very large proportion of our greys are in parks and gardens in towns. There is no way on this earth that we'll license people with guns, even air rifles, to go around shooting them and the public outcry would cost any Government their vote.
No, unless the contraception works, they're here for good.
No, unless the contraception works, they're here for good.
Then the piblic just wasted over a million.
I do not think the eco system cares which squirrel is around, the red or grey, as the grey has been established for so many (squrrel) generations.
I do not think the eco system cares which squirrel is around, the red or grey, as the grey has been established for so many (squrrel) generations.
They tried culling in the 50 and 60 i believe.They paid 3 groats and some woad or something at your local police station. Failed . The problem isnt the fact that greys are better than reds, reds have hung on due to the fact that they are more adapted to corniferous forests, but the fact that greys are resistant to diseases that bite the reds. If you cull greys you are only evening up the loss throughdisease, the greys will come back.
Edit
Sorry the greys are the disease carriers to the reds
http://www.northernredsquirrels.org.uk/squirrels/squirrel-pox-virus/
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