Here at Chopwell Wood, the population has gone haywire, there are literally thousands of the damn things. As you walk around the wood they are constantly scurrying about, very much like rats on a tip.
We have been discussing culling recently ( trapping) but the outcome is that its only really worth doing if you still have reds in residence (officially)
Well, sad to say but I haven't seen red squirrels in Chopwell Wood for well over seven years now and believe me, if they were there, I'd have spotted them.we have had numerous bogus reports of reds, including one nugget claiming that they saw:"a red kite swoop from the sky and snatch the poor little red squirrel away!" all of which when investigated turn out to be greys. (no red kites involved either!)
on the plus side, I've found a few dead greys recently, no outward signs of illness or injury just dead and always among the tree's as opposed to roadkill or bladdered by cats.
oh well!
Kind regards
R.B.