My earlier post about American grey squirrels vs. European red squirrels has provoked a few responses, so I thought I'd take another look at the issue.
The government is indeed taking steps to cull the grey squirrels, according to this BBC report, not only because the greys take food and other resources from the reds, but also because they carry a squirrel pox virus that doesn't affect them but is fatal to the reds. One minister said the government would most likely use poison to cull the greys.
It's worth noting the passion this stirs up amongst those in Great Britain. A cursory Google search reveals that nearly every region has a "Friends of the Red Squirrel" type group, from North Scotland to southern England to Wales.
As England faces its own immigration crises and deals with a swelling population, there's been great debate about building more housing while still protecting the land. Therefore, an article called "Rare red squirrels halt project to build houses" caught my eye.
Finally, grey squirrels really are fascinating creatures, too, despite the damage they cause. Did you know they forget where they hide their nuts and rely on scent to find them? Check out these fun facts, sure to impress the folks at your next cocktail party.
My son just wrote a small book about a squirrel who lives in our tree. It is called The Hollow Tree and we are selling copies so that he might earn enough for a laptop. He is autistic so the story is very literal and he stenciled the art. You can order his book on hopeezinetoday.com under Jammin J's Page. We are printing it ourselves at home.for more information you may email us at webmaster@hopeezinetoday.com
Thanks
Ann, that story is so sad. But it also makes me glad I've escaped "the worst winter ever" in Chicago this year. It's a grey and chilly Saturday morning here in Nottingham, but we've had plenty of sunshine lately and the daffodils are going crazy. You see them everywhere, alongside snowdrops and pansies. I do miss the tulips of Chicagoland, but maybe they'll be coming up here later.
SPEAKING OF GREY SQUIRRELS I RECENTLY WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SAW A GREY SQUIRREL IN A YARD. IT WAS VERY COLD AS I WALKED BY. IT DIDN'T MOVE I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE BUT I WAS IN A HURRY TO CATCH THE BUS. WHEN I CAME HOME LATE THAT EVENING, IT WAS STILL STANDING THERE.THE NEXT DAY I WENT BY I GOING TO THE STORE AND SAW IT STANDING IN THAT SAME SPOT AND I REALIZED IT FROZE TO DEATH STANDING STRAIGHT UP.I STOPPED TO GAZE AT IT. I FELT SO SAD FOR THE SQUIRREL AND NO ONE CARED SO I CALLED ANIMAL WELFARE. DAYS WENT BY NO ONE WOULD PICK THE SQUIRREL UP,IT WAS STARTING TO SLOUCH,THEN I CALLED PETA AND I'M NOT THIS KIND OF PERSON BUT THIS BOTHERED ME. FINALLY SOMEONE PICKED THE GREY SQUIRREL UP.
England is having too many culling crises. They are also considering the culling of badgers because they make cattle direly ill. I say spare the badgers and the cattle and opt to eat cruelty-free meatless cuisine.