Who else thinks we should eradicate the grey squirrel to save the trees?

I love trees as we have a very large garden with a great many in it. I also love the many sqirrels we have out there. They areapparently destroying our hardwood trees. Well we fell more trees than a squirrel could do damage. Plant more. And what about thoseplaces where people visit just to see them? Are they going to lose the visitors and the money by killing them all?Who else thinks we should eradicate the grey squirrel to save the trees?
Grey squirrels can kill a tree in a day, or over longer periods, as they strip the bark for nourishment. We interfered with nature by introducing them into the Uk, and have now almost lost our natural red squirrel, plus birds on which the greys prey are now endangered.





For these reasons I think it may be better that they get returned to their natural habitat, which is not here, but the US, and drastic increases in red squirrel populations. Otherwise as legal vermin they are controlled in some areas - not that I would ever kill one, and they have their own beauty too.





As red squirrel populations pick up, there will be greater visitor numbers to see these rare creatures, who don't damage our woodland and wild life as the greys do. As it is, many UK woodland areas are under attack from grey squirrels or tree losses from other problems. Planting more trees costs us, so would equal higher taxes etc, so we should focus on keeping greys in their natural country and not here in our small country and improving life, and populations of the natural reds. Then the near eradicated red squirrels would return to much of the country - we wouldn't be without squirrels, but would have the type that is natural to here, which surely must be better.





I am not in favour of any cruelty to animals though, so would prefer natural methods of reducing their numbers, so that the red squirrel, which is native to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could regain its natural position in our habitats, both in the countryside and in our gardens. This might mean breeding and reintroduction of more reds in protected areas too, similar to how beavers are being reintroduced.





I generally think that our red squirrels are preferred by the majority of this country - it's not about nature getting its balance - grey squirrels are not naturally here - as grey squirrels have only been here since man introduced them in the 1800's, and have now almost pushed reds to extinction. Greys are aggressive against red squirrels, carry diseases and once our reds have gone, we will suffer their loss.





Take a look at this beautiful one here, and see if you don't fall in love with them, and would adore them in your garden or nearby parkland. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/mul鈥?/a>





Hope this helps. Good luck! RobWho else thinks we should eradicate the grey squirrel to save the trees?
Eleanor, I question your humanity by your even thinking about killing the valuable (I assume) gray squirrels. Trees are more important to you than the most adorable, noble animal in the world 鈥?squirrel?!!! Look on the internet for ways to protect your trees that are not harmful to squirrels.

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Sorry but the grey squirrel is a rat with fur on. Nothing more than vermin.


It damages far more than trees. It raids nests for eggs and fledgelings, digs up plants especially bulbs and is as vicious as a rat when it comes to confrontation with dogs, cats or children. Its bite can cause seriuos abscesses. It also carries disease. It is not a native of Britain.


The red squirrel is our native squirrel and is shy and non- confrontational. It has been virtually wiiped out by the grey. I would happily shoot them out of existence along with rabbits.


http://www.greysquirrelcontrol.co.uk/
By killing them we are not interfering with nature, they were artificially introduced to our islands. apart from trees they destroy nests, stealing eggs or eating chicks. they don't even belong to the squirrel family, they are rodents, better known as tree rats. When I go rabbit shooting I love to blast them from the trees, it's good fun they go round and round the tree trunk. I just wait till they appear then blast 'em. Give our beautiful red squirrel a chance.
Its not just the trees, its the damage they do to everything else. Our native red comes before one thats not native to this country. . I know myself and many others will go to certain places where the red has been spotted hoping to catch a glimpse of one, but never heard of people going out of their way to see a grey, and certainly not paying money to see one - theyre as common as muck - and I'd quite happily see them eradicated.
I am of the school that believes that we shouldn't interfere with nature. If there are too many of any species, they eliminate themselves by not having enough food to go round or fighting each other over territory etc.





When we start putting our big feet into it, it rocks the boat and who knows where things will go?


I didn't know that squirrels could kill trees !! I know we do a pretty good job..
Where did you get your information from? Apparently means not a lot.


I think it's tripe. Have you seen a dead hardwood tree that has been beaten to death by a squirrel? Has anyone? I think not.
Squirrels don't kill trees. But that doesn't mean that we cant kill the squirrels anyway.
No, lets eradicate trees to save the grey squirrel
It might be a better idea to eradicate the royals and save the country
We should learn to eat grey squirrels and cats.
nature will take care of itself, there are too many people interferring with nature as it is.
This is news to me - how does a squirrel kill a tree?
IVY kills millions more trees than squirrels
Get rid of the grey squirrel and let our much nicer red squirrel flourish.
We should eradicate every thing that spoils England. No what I mean