They look cute but as Tibbar pointed out you wouldn't want to be in an enclosed space with them asthey can be vicious if scared! I didn't realise they were classed as vermin though.

I wouldn't have said foreigners have any troubles getting into national parks. The other day I went for a walk around one and there were lots of tourists. If anything there seemed to be more foreigners than British. They seem to appreciate Britain's nature alot more than the majority of us Brits

Sunshine, you would possibly see me as a foreigner (I'm not, as I was born in England)!

I was actually referring to the National Parks in the United States, as it seems that the visa requirements have been changed to the point of discouraging all but the most determined visitors to the US.

Kingfisher

Only according to Insurance companies (get out clause ) Xeract.........
According to English Heritage who took over from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) they are classed as vermin in the UK.
If you trap accidentally or find an injured grey squirrel you have to have it humanely destroyed. You are not allowed to even re-locate one.

.Hi, just a quick first message, grey squirrels(sciurus carolinensis) only present a problem to the native red (sciurus vulgaris) when the grey competes for the available food supply. Greys can feed on un ripe pine cones, garden and household rubbish etc. The Red needs ripe pine cones and is quite a specialist feeder,this pressure on the reds causes them to be more susceptible to the parvoparavox virus which they already carry, because of this competition for the available food source we see a decline of the native red.( this info was given to me by a member of English Heritage, who I worked with on a squirry survey)

A note on Grey squirries : I did watch a programme on a colony of 'Black' squirrels somewhere near Southport, Lancashire apparently the greys have mutated to black... interesting.........incidentally I persuaded Skippy ( my hubs) to post as he is full of interesting facts about wildlife....which makes good fun in our household!

Thank you tibbar and Skippy! That last bit about the manner in which the Eastern Grey has usurped the native Red squirrel is most interesting. I think I had touched on that way back on the first page, but I did not know the specifics.

Kingfisher

Grey squirrels, along with domestic cats, are most likely resonsible for the decline in numbers of many species of songbirds. Native predators, such as the sparrowhawk, live in a balanced way with their prey. The grey squirrel is out of control here in the UK, causing massive damage to our woodlands, songbirds, and are partialliy responsible for the decline of red squirrels. The grey needs eradicating from the UK.

Incidentally, there are reds in other parts of the counrty besides the Isle of Wight. They can be seen near Formby and at many places in the Lake District to name just two.

I agree that the grey squirrel is out of control, but I think eradication is a step too far, and would also be largely impossible. The grey squirrel needs to have its numbers controlled so it can't do any more damage to our native species, especially the red squirrel and songbirds.

I agree that eradication would be extremely difficult, but I think it a necessary solution to this nasty little animal!!

I think I've said this before--they are edible .

Realistically, I don't think there's much chance of eradicating them. For one thing, there's too many people who may not even realise that the grey squirrel is not native.

Kingfisher

We were laughing at a young one yesterday trying to bury a nut in the cracks of our block paving. Oh yes, very funny until I realised it wasn't a nut, it was an anenome corm from my pot that I planted last week. Exit very fast with the word 'Shooooo!!!!!
We couldn't help but laugh though.....who had the last laugh?? the squirrel of course disappearing off with my anenomes!!!!

This post was last modified: 04-05-2007 10:50 AM by tibbar.

Oh my! .

That reminds me, I need to set out my dahlias!

Kingfisher

OOps , Trouble in Squirrie-land this afternoon , next door's cat got hold of baby Squirrel & you should have heard the commotion. She unfortunately injured one of it front paws as she had it by the back of the neck & bit through its shoulder blade. They were duly separated & after 10 go's at getting up the aforementioned giant leylandii next door it managed it but we doubt whether it will survive.
Mutter , mutter vermin or not.........

You can't help but feel sorry for the squirrel, especially as it was a young one!