UK common sense approach: Eating grey squirrels

[Dan D]

The well-known problem:

The native red squirrel population in Britain is being replaced by non-native grey squirrels.

"Historically, red squirrel populations in Britain have fluctuated widely, the species disappearing from many areas at times and recolonising at a later date. However, in the 1920s red squirrels began to be replaced by grey squirrels introduced to about 30 sites from eastern North America, between 1876 and 1929. Red squirrels seem unable to survive in the presence of greys, but the reasons for this are not fully understood."
( http://www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/red_squirrel.shtml )

As a consequence: "Red squirrels are protected by law, and may not be intentionally trapped, killed or kept, or have their dreys disturbed except under licence from English Nature (EN), the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) or Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)."
( http://www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/red_squirrel.shtml )

The solution:
a new gourmet trend in Britain, save a red squirrel, eat a grey one,
movie: hunters, cooks and customers
http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/eichhoernchen100.html

Fascinating!

posted: March 30th

[Jimbuna]

No thanks...I'll stick with the chicken :)

[Dan D]

I think, I got that one: "tastes like chicken".

No proper solution yet in sight for the "the damage that has been caused to Britain's native flora and fauna by this exotic Victorian introduction:
"Rhododendron ponticum", a killer of the countryside"
(http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/rhododen.htm).

[Letum]

Been there, done that.
Hard to spot, easy to shoot and then hardly worth skinning for the tiny bit
of good meat on most of them. Much like pigeons.

I'll stick to rabbit.

[Jimbuna]

http://www.terrencemiao.com/funny/2005-04/That_wasn_t_chicken.jpg

[NeonSamurai]

You should try cross breeding your red squirels with our reds. Ours don't have any problem competing with the black and grey squirels. The reds here are faster, seem to be a bit smarter, oh and are agro like mad when it comes to defending their territory from other squirels, even if the other squirel is 3 times bigger.

We have one who claims our back and front yard as his, when he isnt buisy scolding everything that moves (sounds like a little squeeky jackhanmer) he is chasing off the other squirels. Its funny as all heck watching a big black squirel running away in a blind panic with the little red rocket right behind frothing with rage and nipping at the hind quarters (and black squirels are about 2-3 times bigger)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Red_Squirrel