"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...


"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

Not only, no, I do it to make sure the damage to the environment is
minimised.

What damage to the environment is that?

I'll give you a clue, 'Forestry Commision'!

The Forestry Commission is not the environment, it is a body which
enagages
in forestry. Not always in sympathy with the environment, either.

The forestry is concerned about the welfare of trees, and squirrels
destroy
them.


The forestry is concerned about the commercial value of the timber it grows,
and squirrels can reduce that, especially by 'stripping', which is why the
FC culls in certain circumstances. If you read the FC pest control advice,
you will see they advocate trapping and killing squirrels during the months
when trees are vulnerable to stripping, in areas where there are trees
susceptible to stripping damage, and in years when conditions seem to
suggest stripping damage as being most likely. They do not conduct a
mindless and pointless continual vendetta against the creatures, because,
(a) they concede it is impossible to eradicate them, and (b) the cost of
control is only justified when the presence of squirrels actually
constitutes a threat.

Conservationists will cull grey squirrels in areas where they are attempting
to stop the spread into red squirrel territory, but that's a different
issue.