On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many
birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and,
more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr
Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the
Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most other
parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on the
continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors
affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and I
don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels, magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many
birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and,
more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr
Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the
Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most
other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on
the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors
affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and
I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels,
magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their
bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs,
holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over
or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds.
Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and
magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?


I would guess that cats do more than their share of keeping the bird
population down.

mark

The message
from "mark" contains these words:

I would guess that cats do more than their share of keeping the bird
population down.

I think your guess is a good one.

However, cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, grey
squiggles have only been over here for a couple of hunred or so.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

On 16/3/09 11:52, in article ,
"BAC" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many
birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and,
more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr
Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the
Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most other
parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on the
continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors
affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and I
don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels, magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?


We actively encourage birdlife here. They're a vital part of the biological
controls we use! So if bird numbers fall here it's because squirrels take
eggs or a sparrowhawk has come calling! One of our staff caught one in the
big greenhouse a while ago and there are photos of it on our web site -
beautiful but deadly!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

The message
from "BAC" contains these words:

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many
birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year,

IME, a large number. (So do hedgehogs, BTW)

? and,
more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success?

IME, quite a lot. A whole clutch goes. The chances are, the bird will
lay another clutch in the same nest, and the sqrl will return.

Dr
Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the
Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most
other
parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on the
continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors
affecting migrating birds are far more significant."

And grey sqrls are the icing on the cake.

Wise words, IMO, and I
don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels, magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

Well, as someone who spends a lot of time in the company of gamekeepers,
and on big estates, I can assure you that Sqrls and magpies (jays and
crows too) have a very significant effect on small bird populations
round here.

Sparrowhawks to a lesser extent, but their numbers are rising so fast
that even RSPB people are getting a bit worried about them, especially
where endangered species are concerned.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies
because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

And of course, those who haven't, because the sqrls are digging-up their
bulbs and veg, and raiding some crops, as well as eating the food put
out for the fast-disappearing birds.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

"Rusty_Hinge" wrote in message
. uk...
The message
from "BAC" contains these words:

snip


I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels,
magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

Well, as someone who spends a lot of time in the company of gamekeepers,
and on big estates, I can assure you that Sqrls and magpies (jays and
crows too) have a very significant effect on small bird populations
round here.

Interesting. Are there some estates where they exterminate the squirrels,
magpies etc., and some where they don't, and where surveys of the
pre-breeding populations of the various resident songbird populations show a
significant variance?


Sparrowhawks to a lesser extent, but their numbers are rising so fast
that even RSPB people are getting a bit worried about them, especially
where endangered species are concerned.


It's only natural for people concerned with the survival of an endangered
species to get hyperprotective about the risks the population faces. But
sparrowhawks are unlikely to specialise on a particular species. Indeed,
they take whatever is available and easy to catch. So if there are plenty of
'unendangered' fledglings about, they'll probably take more of them than the
endangered ones.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit
to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't
it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies
because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

And of course, those who haven't, because the sqrls are digging-up their
bulbs and veg, and raiding some crops, as well as eating the food put
out for the fast-disappearing birds.


Squirrels are clever, but not clever enough to realise that food left out in
people's gardens isn't intended for them :-)

The message
from "BAC" contains these words:
"Rusty_Hinge" wrote in message
. uk...
The message
from "BAC" contains these words:

snip

I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels,
magpies
and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

Well, as someone who spends a lot of time in the company of gamekeepers,
and on big estates, I can assure you that Sqrls and magpies (jays and
crows too) have a very significant effect on small bird populations
round here.

Interesting. Are there some estates where they exterminate the squirrels,
magpies etc., and some where they don't, and where surveys of the
pre-breeding populations of the various resident songbird populations
show a
significant variance?

Yes, and no idea.

Sparrowhawks to a lesser extent, but their numbers are rising so fast
that even RSPB people are getting a bit worried about them, especially
where endangered species are concerned.


It's only natural for people concerned with the survival of an endangered
species to get hyperprotective about the risks the population faces. But
sparrowhawks are unlikely to specialise on a particular species. Indeed,
they take whatever is available and easy to catch. So if there are
plenty of
'unendangered' fledglings about, they'll probably take more of them
than the
endangered ones.

Sparrowhawks will take pretty nearly anything that flies and isn't much
bigger than a pheasant, and raptors tend not to care wheter dinner is an
endangered species or not.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home
and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their bit
to
destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs, holes
under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over or
decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds. Wouldn't
it
be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and magpies
because
they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

And of course, those who haven't, because the sqrls are digging-up their
bulbs and veg, and raiding some crops, as well as eating the food put
out for the fast-disappearing birds.

Squirrels are clever, but not clever enough to realise that food left
out in
people's gardens isn't intended for them :-)

Why do they run away when caught at it, then? Colon dash close parentheses

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how many
birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year, and,
more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding success? Dr
Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a letter to the
Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not found in most
other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also dropping on
the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change and factors
affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise words, IMO, and
I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat squirrels,
magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird populations.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their
bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs,
holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving over
or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds.
Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and
magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as there used to be?

I wonder if he would feel the same if he wanted to grow things like nuts for
his table?

"alan.holmes" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how
many birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year,
and, more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding
success? Dr Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a
letter to the Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not
found in most other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is also
dropping on the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate change
and factors affecting migrating birds are far more significant." Wise
words, IMO, and I don't believe we should rush to judgement to scapegoat
squirrels, magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in bird
populations.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their
bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees, shrubs,
holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and paving
over or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for birds.
Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing squirrels and
magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as there used to
be?

I wonder if he would feel the same if he wanted to grow things like nuts
for his table?


You are what you eat, they say.

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"alan.holmes" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 16/3/09 10:42, in article
net, "mark"
wrote:


"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
I've got a Fenn MkIV trap but I'm not having much success in coaxing
the little bleeders into its jaws. I've dug the trap into the earth
so
that its treadle plate is pretty much level with the soil and then
covered the whole trap with bark chips to make it more or less
invisible. I bought a metal tunnel with the trap, and I've covered
the
whole set up with this. But despite scattering a few peanuts around
and inside the tunnel I've had no luck. They eat the nuts outside and
carefully avoid the tunnel. I thought perhaps they didn't like the
strange metal tunnel, so I've tried a couple of house bricks with
roof
tile on top - no success that way either.

I don't much like the idea of poison for the sake of the squirrels or
other wildlife, so plan B is an airgun, but obviously a trap would be
a lot less work (and less vulnerable to my appalling marksmanship).



I feed mine peanuts.
I quite like to watch them.

mark


They're lovely to watch but they're so destructive to birds' eggs.

Hmmn. Eating an egg or chick is 100% destructive to it, true, but how
many birds' eggs and chicks does the average squirrel consume each year,
and, more important, what effect do squirrels have on bird breeding
success? Dr Mark Avery, Director of Conservation for the RSPB wrote in a
letter to the Telegraph on 22nd October, 2007, "Grey squirrels are not
found in most other parts of Europe, yet woodland bird population is
also dropping on the continent. ... Poor woodland management, climate
change and factors affecting migrating birds are far more significant."
Wise words, IMO, and I don't believe we should rush to judgement to
scapegoat squirrels, magpies and sparrowhawks for observed declines in
bird populations.

In addition to changes in the climate and in agricultural practices at
home and abroad, there are plenty of gardeners who have been doing their
bit to destroy birds' habitats, by removing nesting sites (trees,
shrubs, holes under eaves, etc), food stuffs (weeds and seeds etc) and
paving over or decking land which used to produce invertebrate food for
birds. Wouldn't it be ironic if such people were to start killing
squirrels and magpies because they don't notice so many birds about as
there used to be?

I wonder if he would feel the same if he wanted to grow things like nuts
for his table?


You are what you eat, they say.

So, if I ate a squirrel, would I become a squirrel?

Alan

"alan.holmes" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

snip

I wonder if he would feel the same if he wanted to grow things like nuts
for his table?


You are what you eat, they say.

So, if I ate a squirrel, would I become a squirrel?


And have to cull yourself? I hope not.

I don't think the saying is meant to be taken literally, see

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/y...you%20eat.html

The man growing nuts for his table would probably feel the better for it,
IMO.