Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

How do you feel about them? Do you find them amusing and tolerate them even putting out special food for them? Or do you dislike them perhaps trapping and killing them? I have one that comes to my garden occasionally the local park has lots and some people feed them.Did you know if you trap on you cannot release the animal but must kill him?Apologies if this topic has been covered previously.

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

I would happily see them destroyed, they are killing or native reds just by being present in the UK where they dont belong. Mans stupidity by introducing a foreign species that carries a toxic disease Squirrel parapoxvirus


Its also been found that they carry Lyme disease.

Grey squirrels are in trouble again as scientists find they could give people Lyme disease


The pest rodent is already in conservationists’ bad books for endangering its red squirrel cousin and damaging woodland by stripping bark from trees



PA Grey squirrels
Ticking off: Grey squirrels have added to their bad-boy image by carrying Lyme disease

Grey squirrels have been found to carry a serious infection that can be spread to humans by ticks.

A scientific study reveals that the pest rodents host the Borrelia bacteria which causes Lyme disease

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

I would never kill any creature and I enjoy watching the grey squirrels that come into my garden.
I can understand why people don't like them being here, because our red squirrels do suffer... it seems the grey ones are stronger and more adaptable! It isn't their fault though, after all it was humans that brought them to this country!

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

Hi

I don't like them, they do tremendous damage.

They do taste nice though, we eat them, waste not want not.

I like red squirrels though, but sadly none remaining around here.

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

Red or grey ?.....what's the difference ? Surely it's just a colour preference !

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

Hi

Nope, Reds are indigenous and are seed eaters, causing minimal damage to the trees.

Greys however cause massive damage by bark sripping.

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

So what do Greys eat, in your part of the world then ?.....around here they eat nuts, acorns, hazlenuts, chestnuts horse and Spanish, and I've never seen any of the tree damage you mention.

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

Hi

Well, the Forestry Commission seem to believe me

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Grey-squirrels-policy-and-action-plan.pdf/$FILE/Grey-squirrels-policy-and-action-plan.pdf

Greys don't eat the bark, they just strip it.

Greys also eat a much larger range of foods than reds and as such live in much denser populations.

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

Not much meat on them but probably better than pigeon if they are stuffed, roasted and served with a nice pepper sauce, salad and chips.

The only problem is that our strict quarantine laws probably won't let you import them.

Re: Grey Squirrels Like or Dislike

Sadly ive seen the encroachment of the Greys into Northumberland from both South and North of us, unless serious action is taken to rid ourselves from the Greys which are regarded as a pest / vermin, we will lose our native reds.Ive witnessd the damage done by Greys on a local natre reserve when Greys were stupidly introduced by a thoughtless women who rescued the Greys that had been trapped elsewhere, seeing reds with squirrel pox is no enjoyable experience.