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Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year?
Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Elizabeth" wrote in message ... Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply Yes I have down here in Kent, Elizabeth. One persistant little b*****d who runs off as soon as I get my air rifle cocked!! I read somewhere that the grey squirrel doesn't hibernate Clive in Kent |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 12:14:21 -0000, "Clive in Kent"
wrote: "Elizabeth" wrote in message .. . Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply Yes I have down here in Kent, Elizabeth. One persistant little b*****d who runs off as soon as I get my air rifle cocked!! I read somewhere that the grey squirrel doesn't hibernate Clive in Kent I don't think they hibernate at all. Our Garden in the south is full of them all year round, and at the moment they are busy destroying all the bird feeders. They are pests, but such cute pests! |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year?
Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply Yes I have down here in Kent, Elizabeth. One persistant little b*****d who runs off as soon as I get my air rifle cocked!! I read somewhere that the grey squirrel doesn't hibernate Clive in Kent I don't think they hibernate at all. Our Garden in the south is full of them all year round, and at the moment they are busy destroying all the bird feeders. They are pests, but such cute pests! We have plenty here in Gloucestershire. |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Elizabeth" wrote in message ... Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply I have 3 squirrels. I put a handful of peanuts out for them every day and the squirrel that spots them first, eats a few and buries the rest. mark |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Elizabeth" wrote in message ... Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Everybody within the grey squirrel's range has non-hibernating grey squirrels, because they do not hibernate. |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
I don't think they hibernate at all. Our Garden in the south is full
of them all year round, and at the moment they are busy destroying all the bird feeders. They are pests, but such cute pests! The one which can be heard scratching somewhere within the ceiling voids of this house is certainly very busy if he's hibernating! How the bugger gets in we just can't work out! Eddy. |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"BAC" wrote in message ... "Elizabeth" wrote in message ... Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Everybody within the grey squirrel's range has non-hibernating grey squirrels, because they do not hibernate. I wish everyone who has a gray squirrel would get rid of them, I live in Formby, one of the last few places where our native Red lives, and is being kept from the imported American Grey http://tinyurl.com/2fmhte |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Sheila" wrote in message .uk... "BAC" wrote in message ... "Elizabeth" wrote in message ... Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Everybody within the grey squirrel's range has non-hibernating grey squirrels, because they do not hibernate. I wish everyone who has a gray squirrel would get rid of them, I live in Formby, one of the last few places where our native Red lives, and is being kept from the imported American Grey http://tinyurl.com/2fmhte It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK just to keep them out of Formby. |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
Fuschia wrote:
On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 12:14:21 -0000, "Clive in Kent" wrote: "Elizabeth" wrote in message .. . Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply Yes I have down here in Kent, Elizabeth. One persistant little b*****d who runs off as soon as I get my air rifle cocked!! I read somewhere that the grey squirrel doesn't hibernate Clive in Kent I don't think they hibernate at all. Our Garden in the south is full of them all year round, and at the moment they are busy destroying all the bird feeders. They are pests, but such cute pests! Spend rather more on an all metal peanut feeder! We've had ours 4 or 5 years and the squirrels have, so far, only managed to remove some paint from the base and slightly bend the wire mesh (heavier duty wire and spot welded at each crossing so the little b*&^rs can't pull them apart). -- Larry Stoter |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
Malcolm writes
It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK just to keep them out of Formby. Wrong. It is vital, not just necessary, to kill grey squirrels anywhere where they are putting our increasingly endangered red squirrel populations at risk, including many areas in Scotland. I doubt whether killing greys in the middle of Leeds is going to do much to help reds in Scotland, or even in Cumbria. And if you are in an urban area, you are grateful for any wildlife you can see, even the introduced variety. -- Kay |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , BAC writes "Sheila" wrote in message . co.uk... "BAC" wrote in message ... "Elizabeth" wrote in message ... Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Everybody within the grey squirrel's range has non-hibernating grey squirrels, because they do not hibernate. I wish everyone who has a gray squirrel would get rid of them, I live in Formby, one of the last few places where our native Red lives, and is being kept from the imported American Grey http://tinyurl.com/2fmhte It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK just to keep them out of Formby. Wrong. It is vital, not just necessary, to kill grey squirrels anywhere where they are putting our increasingly endangered red squirrel populations at risk, including many areas in Scotland. Whilst I may accept it could be expedient to eliminate grey squirrels "anywhere where they are putting ... red squirrel populations at risk", say by maintaining a grey free 'cordon sanitaire' around the red squirrel enclave, that policy doesn't need to be extended to 'everywhere in the UK', since there are few red squirrel populations left at risk in the UK. Most of England and Wales, for instance, has no red squirrel populations, and killing grey squirrels in Kent, say, would make absolutely no difference to the survival prospects of remnant red squirrel populations such as those hanging on in locations like Formby, parts of Scotland, Anglesey, or the Isle of Wight. Hence my statement 'It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK just to keep them out of Formby' is not "Wrong", on the contrary, it is true and accurate. |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , BAC writes "Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , BAC writes "Sheila" wrote in message r.co.uk... "BAC" wrote in message ... "Elizabeth" wrote in message ... Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Everybody within the grey squirrel's range has non-hibernating grey squirrels, because they do not hibernate. I wish everyone who has a gray squirrel would get rid of them, I live in Formby, one of the last few places where our native Red lives, and is being kept from the imported American Grey http://tinyurl.com/2fmhte It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK just to keep them out of Formby. Wrong. It is vital, not just necessary, to kill grey squirrels anywhere where they are putting our increasingly endangered red squirrel populations at risk, including many areas in Scotland. Whilst I may accept it could be expedient to eliminate grey squirrels "anywhere where they are putting ... red squirrel populations at risk", say by maintaining a grey free 'cordon sanitaire' around the red squirrel enclave, that policy doesn't need to be extended to 'everywhere in the UK', since there are few red squirrel populations left at risk in the UK. Most of England and Wales, for instance, has no red squirrel populations, and killing grey squirrels in Kent, say, would make absolutely no difference to the survival prospects of remnant red squirrel populations such as those hanging on in locations like Formby, parts of Scotland, Anglesey, or the Isle of Wight. Hence my statement 'It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK just to keep them out of Formby' is not "Wrong", on the contrary, it is true and accurate. My "wrong" was in response to your "just to keep them out of Formby". I was pointing out, as you accept, that there are other, arguably far more important areas, like those parts of Scotland holding the vast majority of our dwindling population of red squirrels, where it is equally important (= vital) to do so. I was of course responding in the context of the OP's wish that 'everyone' should get rid of grey squirrels to preserve the Formby reds. |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
" I was of course responding in the context of the OP's wish that 'everyone' should get rid of grey squirrels to preserve the Formby reds. I didn't actually say that, just that Formby was one of the few areas left! The native red is an endangered species in the UK, whilst the grey flourishes, on the back of the red, being larger, and clears out the reds food first. Also, they pass on a disease which decimates the red's also. Living with these squirrels naturally makes me want to eliminate the big bad grey! wouldn't it be nicer for us to have the native species back again, throughout the country, there are enough greys in the US! |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Sheila" wrote in message .uk... " I was of course responding in the context of the OP's wish that 'everyone' should get rid of grey squirrels to preserve the Formby reds. I didn't actually say that, Well, that's the way I read what you posted ... just that Formby was one of the few areas left! The native red is an endangered species in the UK, whilst the grey flourishes, on the back of the red, being larger, and clears out the reds food first. Also, they pass on a disease which decimates the red's also. Living with these squirrels naturally makes me want to eliminate the big bad grey! wouldn't it be nicer for us to have the native species back again, throughout the country, there are enough greys in the US! Judging by grey squirrels' success here, our islands seem to provide an almost ideal habitat for them, and they have been naturalised and flourishing here for a considerable time. There are now so many of them, so widely distributed, that it would be impractical to eliminate all the grey squirrels from the UK, especially as there would probably be a backlash from people who are happy enough with the grey squirrels they have been 'living with' for decades, and who have probably only ever seen a red squirrel in Beatrix Potter illustrations. Better to concentrate efforts on trying to preserve the remaining red 'strongholds', IMO, than to wage a fruitless campaign against greys in general. Fair enough, there are plenty of grey squirrels in the USA - but you could say there are enough 'reds' in Europe and Asia, too. |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
On Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:20:26 GMT, Sheila wrote:
The native red is an endangered species in the UK, whilst the grey flourishes, on the back of the red, being larger, and clears out the reds food first. Also, they pass on a disease which decimates the red's also. Squirrel pox is the major problem rather than greys out competing reds for resoursces. Greys squirrle pox but it has little if any affect on them. An infected red dies in around two weeks. http://www.scottishsquirrelsurvey.co.uk/pox.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4093856.stm http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...-northwest/w-n orthwest-news/w-northwest-news-squirrel_pox_formby.htm I do hope that they do manage to control it. Though there is no date on that "news" article, I assume they mean Nov 07. We visited Formby last year, lots of Squirrels, sit still and they would come very close. We have them around here (North Pennines) but ours a far less habituated to humans... Late last year greys were spotted, fund raising bought traps and a hotline to one of the local keepers published. Any grey sticking its head up round here better be prepared to have it blown off. -- Cheers Dave. pam is missing e-mail |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
Malcolm writes
In article , K writes Malcolm writes It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK just to keep them out of Formby. Wrong. It is vital, not just necessary, to kill grey squirrels anywhere where they are putting our increasingly endangered red squirrel populations at risk, including many areas in Scotland. I doubt whether killing greys in the middle of Leeds is going to do much to help reds in Scotland, or even in Cumbria. No, and I didn't say it would. I take your point that your 'wrong' referred to the 'just to keep them out of Formby' rather than to 'It isn't necessary to kill all grey squirrels everywhere in the UK'. Not very clear from your original post though! ;-) -- Kay |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message ll.net... On Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:20:26 GMT, Sheila wrote: The native red is an endangered species in the UK, whilst the grey flourishes, on the back of the red, being larger, and clears out the reds food first. Also, they pass on a disease which decimates the red's also. Squirrel pox is the major problem rather than greys out competing reds for resoursces. Greys squirrle pox but it has little if any affect on them. An infected red dies in around two weeks. http://www.scottishsquirrelsurvey.co.uk/pox.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4093856.stm http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...-northwest/w-n orthwest-news/w-northwest-news-squirrel_pox_formby.htm I do hope that they do manage to control it. Though there is no date on that "news" article, I assume they mean Nov 07. We visited Formby last year, lots of Squirrels, sit still and they would come very close. We have them around here (North Pennines) but ours a far less habituated to humans... Late last year greys were spotted, fund raising bought traps and a hotline to one of the local keepers published. Any grey sticking its head up round here better be prepared to have it blown off. -- Cheers Dave. pam is missing e-mail An alternate view.. http://www.grey-squirrel.org.uk/ Lol |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
"Malcolm" wrote in message ... In article , Lol writes "Dave Liquorice" wrote in message hill.net... On Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:20:26 GMT, Sheila wrote: The native red is an endangered species in the UK, whilst the grey flourishes, on the back of the red, being larger, and clears out the reds food first. Also, they pass on a disease which decimates the red's also. Squirrel pox is the major problem rather than greys out competing reds for resoursces. Greys squirrle pox but it has little if any affect on them. An infected red dies in around two weeks. http://www.scottishsquirrelsurvey.co.uk/pox.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4093856.stm http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...-northwest/w-n orthwest-news/w-northwest-news-squirrel_pox_formby.htm I do hope that they do manage to control it. Though there is no date on that "news" article, I assume they mean Nov 07. We visited Formby last year, lots of Squirrels, sit still and they would come very close. We have them around here (North Pennines) but ours a far less habituated to humans... Late last year greys were spotted, fund raising bought traps and a hotline to one of the local keepers published. Any grey sticking its head up round here better be prepared to have it blown off. -- Cheers Dave. pam is missing e-mail An alternate view.. http://www.grey-squirrel.org.uk/ Lol I think it very appropriate to call the author of those pages a "nutter" :-) Do not believe everything written there! Do not believe everything written anywhere :-) |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:27 +0000, Elizabeth
wrote: Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply Grey squirrels don't hibernate. Also they are being persecuted unfairly by those who want to exploit red squirrels as a tourist attraction. ______________________ Misleading the public. Whilst nobody wants the red squirrel to die out, the ongoing campaign against grey squirrels is grossly unfair and doesn't stack up factually. Two reasons for the expansion of grey squirrels are the political fad of planting native broadleaf trees and the exploitation of woodlands for recreation purposes rather than havens for wildlife. Greys thrive in deciduous woodlands and are less affected by human intrusion. These policies do much to undermine the reds' habitat and their very existence. Because it is much easier to blame another species than our own activities, grey squirrels are the conservationists' easy target and are condemned as "aliens", even though, as individuals, they are as native as any of us born in this country irrespective of colour or creed. They are also condemned as carriers of Squirrel Poxvirus (SQPV). We are frequently told that the red squirrel has no immunity or resistance to SQPV. However, I recently wrote to the Forestry Commission, under the Freedom of Information Act, asking what evidence existed that red squirrels had no immunity. I was subsequently advised that "no routine testing of live red squirrels is undertaken" and they "are not aware of any scientific evidence one way or another as to whether or not there is a resistant population of reds out there". Add to this, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), that advises government on such matters, states that the origin of the virus is "unknown". On this basis, there is no foundation whatsoever to the claim that red squirrels have no immunity or resistance to SQPV. Even more significantly, early in the last century, out of forty-four districts in England where red squirrels had the disease, only four of them had grey squirrels present. This confirms that the disease was endemic within the red squirrel population long before they had any contact with greys. Around the same time, red squirrels were shot almost to extinction by estate owners fearing tree damage and were condemned as "tree-rats" - a term now being used, just as unfairly, to demonise grey squirrels. As a result of this killing spree the present stock of reds is not indigenous to this country as they were re-introduced from Europe. It seems the conservationists' hate campaign against grey squirrels has reached such a pitch that they are prepared to ignore anything factual that doesn't quite suit their agenda. Conservationists who say red squirrels have no immunity or resistance to SQPV and that grey squirrels are passing on the disease, are simply misleading the public The truth is they don't know! Angus Macmillan www.roots-of-blood.org.uk www.killhunting.org www.con-servation.org.uk All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and Third, it is accepted as self-evident. -- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) |
Non-hibernating Grey Squirrels
Elizabeth wrote:
Has anyone else got non-hibernating gray squirrels this year? Normally I can feed the birds at this time of year without the feeders being raided Elizabeth in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Removex to reply This fella is a frequent visitor to my feeders: http://www.flickr.com/photos/treetop...7603585384719/ |
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