1 red for every 66 grey squirrels

[nadoom]

the uk is overrun by immigrants! the grey squirrels are taking over and consigning our native red to the scrap heap. What must we do to stop it?

I suggest a mass kull of greys.. what say you?

Who cares?

[odin]

Same-ish problem here in Norway. The arctic fox is nearly extinct whereas the common red fox is thriving like never before. There are only an estimated 110 individuals left in the whole of the Fenno-Scandinavia :-(.

It's a difficult matter tbh. Should you really be shooting red foxes to favour the arctic ones? One could argue that the dominance of the red fox is just nature taking it's course but on the other hand nature's been so beat up and influenced by mankind that you might as well argue that it's our doing.

-edit-
I care :-D.

[nadoom]

nicholas, the mere fact that you have posted on this thread shows that you care

[PMC]

Poor little reds... Last one I saw (outside of a wildlife park) was in Norfolk and very dead.

However, logical as it may seem I still can't abide the idea of a cull.  There has to be a way of helping our little red pals without culling so many greys.

[blobrana]

[color=ff00ff]>>[/color][color=808080]There has to be a way of helping[/color]

Hum,
Genetic enhancements...

IMAGE from allhumor.net/ScotSquirrel.jpeg

Actually i think this is old news and the red squirrel isn't in decline anymore. I seem to recall that they have found a niche in Scotland where the greys can’t compete as well.

[nadoom]

Poor little reds... Last one I saw (outside of a wildlife park) was in Norfolk and very dead.

are you sure it wasnt a grey squirrel covered in a smattering of its own blood?

[metalman]

PMC wrote:
Poor little reds... Last one I saw (outside of a wildlife park) was in Norfolk and very dead.

However, logical as it may seem I still can't abide the idea of a cull.  There has to be a way of helping our little red pals without culling so many greys.

As its name suggests, the North American Eastern Gray Squirrel's (Sciurus carolinensis) fur is predominantly gray, but many American cities are known for their native populations of red, albino (white), or melanistic (black) varriations of the Eastern Gray Squirrel.

Just import some RED fur, North American Gray Squirrel's! ;-)

OR, solution #2,

Squirrel Season!  So How Do You Cook Squirrel?

More squirrel recipes here  

Solution #2 would be the Enviromentially correct solution!

[nadoom]

a squirrel is a cute rat... aint no way i am eating a rat!

[odin]

I don't know, I wouldn't diss it before you've tried it.

[PMC]

Actually, metalman might be on to something here!

Take one of our little grey friends, gently killed and garnish with sage and oregano and tomato puree.  Wrap in foil and bake on a low heat for two hours.  

Et viola!  Serve with baby potatoes, peas and runner beans...  Mmm, sounds delicious!

Oh, and a chilled glass of white wine would b agreat accompaniment to the dish.
 

[metalman]

nadoom wrote:
a squirrel is a cute rat... aint no way i am eating a rat!

Read this article and you will be asking for the rat instead of these choices!


Eating out in Vietnam
Excerpt:

Many Vietnamese still have to eat whatever they can lay their hands on. Pet birds and dogs are kept indoors to save them from the cooking pot. In 1998, the government tried to reduce the consumption of snakes and cats by banning their sale, since the exploding rat population was damaging crops. Instead, peasants simply took to eating rats as well. The dwindling number of rats, in turn, has caused an explosion in the numbers of another tasty treat: snails.

[metalman]

PMC wrote:
Actually, metalman might be on to something here!

Take one of our little grey friends, gently killed and garnish with sage and oregano and tomato puree.  Wrap in foil and bake on a low heat for two hours.  

Et viola!  Serve with baby potatoes, peas and runner beans...  Mmm, sounds delicious!

Oh, and a chilled glass of white wine would b agreat accompaniment to the dish.
 

bon appetite!

[nadoom]

i still think that a cold bullet to the head and fed to a dog would be a better option, any one here tried squirrel? apparently there is very little meat on the bones

[PMC]

I quite liked the odea of the weighted feeding tables I saw on "Tomorrow's World" (where else?) a few years back.  Being smaller, Mr Red Squirrel doesn't trip the spring and can get to the food left out for him.  However, the lardier Mr Grey causes a weight to move and cover the food over, so no free lunch for him.

Literally tipping the scales in favour of our little red pals.