Grey Squirrel Cull
- Thread starter TeeDee
- Start date
A timely thread.
We've had a problem in the garden with a particularly determined squirrel for some time.
I tried trapping it but all it ever did was move around the trap.
I bought an air pistol to shoot the thing - couldn't get close enough to get a decent shot.
Then this morning, on a whim, I set the trap with some chestnuts I collected yesterday.
I thought no more of it and went and had a bath.
I came down and decided to load up the bird table.
And there I saw t - the squirrel. In the trap!
My original intention, on capturing it, was to shoot the thing at point blank range.
But I saw him in there and I couldn't. I wanted to, and God only knows he deserved it after all the damage he'd caused. But I just couldn't.
So I took him for a drive a few miles down the road and set him free in some woods.
Yeah, I know that what I did was actually illegal - if you trap a grey squirrel you are legally obliged to kill it. But I couldn't.
I think it was just the 'up close and personal' nature of it, because I've taken a few pot shots from a distance at the thing.
I'd be glad to see less of the things, but not sure it'd be me who pulls the trigger.
We've had a problem in the garden with a particularly determined squirrel for some time.
I tried trapping it but all it ever did was move around the trap.
I bought an air pistol to shoot the thing - couldn't get close enough to get a decent shot.
Then this morning, on a whim, I set the trap with some chestnuts I collected yesterday.
I thought no more of it and went and had a bath.
I came down and decided to load up the bird table.
And there I saw t - the squirrel. In the trap!
My original intention, on capturing it, was to shoot the thing at point blank range.
But I saw him in there and I couldn't. I wanted to, and God only knows he deserved it after all the damage he'd caused. But I just couldn't.
So I took him for a drive a few miles down the road and set him free in some woods.
Yeah, I know that what I did was actually illegal - if you trap a grey squirrel you are legally obliged to kill it. But I couldn't.
I think it was just the 'up close and personal' nature of it, because I've taken a few pot shots from a distance at the thing.
I'd be glad to see less of the things, but not sure it'd be me who pulls the trigger.
I've been thinking about this, especially as I've been cutting back yet another badly squirrel damaged tree today, and I'm not sure how much help greys are. From my experience squirrel damage is fairly easy to spot and I don't recall seeing any holes caused by it. The bark often tends to grow back and if the tree is lucky it carries on growing but with deformed timber. Usually the squirrels round here damage the trees each year and that causes the tree to become stunted and sometimes die. Branches do indeed fall but I've not seen any create holes in the trunks. Greys will often target younger trees preventing the tree getting to a decent size to provide good nesting habitat for birds I'd have thought.
At the end of the day though the birds got on fairly well before greys were introduced.
Most of our woodpecker species are really territorial. Food and nesting opportunities are non-starters. And, huge territories.
All that means is that they were useless against Mountain Pine Beetle infestations.
Instead of "cull," why not use the word "crop?" Local extirpation does not solve your problem at all.
So, come up with a list of "squirrel" products and go to market.
Paleo wood carving tools from their teeth.
Squirrel hair makes some very good quality watercolor paint brushes, judging by the price.
Where is the hair coming from for the brushes in this day and time?
All that means is that they were useless against Mountain Pine Beetle infestations.
Instead of "cull," why not use the word "crop?" Local extirpation does not solve your problem at all.
So, come up with a list of "squirrel" products and go to market.
Paleo wood carving tools from their teeth.
Squirrel hair makes some very good quality watercolor paint brushes, judging by the price.
Where is the hair coming from for the brushes in this day and time?
Grey squirrels aren't snakes though; they're not known for being anything but active. Even in Winter they don't 'hibernate' for long. There is the other point too, we are an urbanised country, we can isolate pockets of woodlands, of the squirrels, and slowly clear them out. We don't really do jungles, and the grey squirrel much prefers suburbia when it gets the chance.
M
Their mobility is unquestioned. If you knock them down in one district, that just opens up more and unoccupied territory.
Put a financial bounty on the tails. Never worry about bag limits or population sizes. Find uses for them.
I watched it happen in the city. The neighbors had an endless supply of squirrels. Maybe a month squirrel-free at times?
Like you have the British version of the cane toads!
Put a financial bounty on the tails. Never worry about bag limits or population sizes. Find uses for them.
I watched it happen in the city. The neighbors had an endless supply of squirrels. Maybe a month squirrel-free at times?
Like you have the British version of the cane toads!
They only breed twice in each year. Get them at the right time and you stop the population recovering and it can be slowly decimated (literally).
If the reservoir populations are culled, then those in less favourable (food and climate wise) areas where they breed in fewer numbers anyway, will clear out in time too.
But, and it's an enormous but, the reservoir areas where they breed in more than replacement sized litters, is in suburbia.
M
If the reservoir populations are culled, then those in less favourable (food and climate wise) areas where they breed in fewer numbers anyway, will clear out in time too.
But, and it's an enormous but, the reservoir areas where they breed in more than replacement sized litters, is in suburbia.
M
Britain or Europe will never get rid of the unwanted species. Too many people will be against an extermination.
Look on the Japsnese knotweed problem. It can be exterminated by spraying and cutting. Yes, it will take a weekly effort for a couple of years. But it can be done.
Yet it is spreading.
Look on the Japsnese knotweed problem. It can be exterminated by spraying and cutting. Yes, it will take a weekly effort for a couple of years. But it can be done.
Yet it is spreading.
Last edited:
If you can think of it, chances are someone has already done it...
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/11855223.Squirrel_pie_is_added_to_the_menu/
Doing that is old fashined ethics. Do not waste.
I wonder if Red Squirrels taste similar?
And rats?
No, I am not trolling. I have tried most meats that exist in Europe you can think of. Plus most African game. Except insects, rats, elephant, rhino.
I must have a forefather that was Chinese.
I wonder if Red Squirrels taste similar?
And rats?
No, I am not trolling. I have tried most meats that exist in Europe you can think of. Plus most African game. Except insects, rats, elephant, rhino.
I must have a forefather that was Chinese.
More likely French
Red squirrels are a 'least concern' species according to the IUCN. Local genetic diversity notwithstanding, there's nothing wrong with eating them, just ensure your personal harvest is a sustainable one. In the UK the sustainable harvest of reds would be a zero harvest.
Yeah, they're mostly active here too; and yeah, their hibernation is really more of a few days nap. All that said, their breeding is best described as voracious! Maybe you can stop the population from recovering, but you're gonna have to a lot better than "decimating" them. Harvesting one out of every 10 isn't really much of a kill at all.
I can't speak for the species you're trying to compare it too, but from the different species of squirrels I've tried here, they all taste similar but different (if that makes sense) Larger Fox Squirrels (no longer legal to hunt) used to be a similar taste to their smaller Grey cousins but definitely meatier and tougher. Kinda like comparing rabbits to hares.
The fishing lure company, Mepps, has been paying for squirrel tails since before I was born. They used to use the hair for fly tying. Not sure if they still do or not.
Litters of two at a time are common enough here. In suburbia three seems to be more prevalent.
One in ten take out, time after time after time, reduces numbers pretty effectively. It needs to be a determined, consistent effort though.
Alan posted a short video recently of our local woodlands, we have an enormous variety of deciduous trees.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147164&highlight=Alan,+home
In Winter the leaves fall and the greys are easily spotted.
We still have reds here, not many but they are still here. If the greys are culled, then the reds have more chance of raising offspring.
On the whole I think we'd prefer the reds.
If i see ten squirrels i'm not leaving nine of em!!!
Practical man
It was the 'decimate' bit. BR once got on a rant to me about it being a horrendously offensive word, since it literally meant that one man in ten in a regiment that lost a battle was killed for not winning. In it's modern meaning though, it does slowly reduce numbers very effectively of pest species
M
