This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone know
whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is available?

Thank you, Joe
--

"Josie" <Spam_Trap [at] ST.farrugia.org.uk> wrote in message
news:UWs+fLBRw5fEFwAy [at] SpamTrap.domain.com...
> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone know
> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is available?

Your local council will (if pressed) set Squirrel traps.

Usually a steel mesh box with a trapdoor opening that drops when the
squirrel treads on it closing the door behind it.

I used one for catching a rat family because I didn't want poison killing
off any other animals

"Josie" <Spam_Trap [at] ST.farrugia.org.uk> wrote in message
news:UWs+fLBRw5fEFwAy [at] SpamTrap.domain.com...
> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone know
> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is available?

You can get a rat/mink trap from Mole Valley Farmers in Somerset which is
quite effective.

You may need more than one!(:-)

Alan


>
> Thank you, Joe
> --
>

Josie Wrote:
> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
> know
> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
> available?
>
> Thank you, Joe
> --
Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any drastic
action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They cause
little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people who
love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.


--
Pest Effects

Pest Effects wrote:

>Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any drastic
>action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
>think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
>wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They cause
>little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people who
>love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.

My garden is regularly being disturbed by squirrels burying, and
subsequently searching for, nuts left out for them by a
neighbour. If they all went into his garden, there would be no
problem.

Maybe a sonic scarer is worth trying. Has anybody found them
successful? Could keep the cats away too.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
chris [at] cdixon.me.uk

Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

"Pest Effects" <Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> Josie Wrote:
>> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
>> know
>> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
>> available?
>>
>> Thank you, Joe
>> --
> Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any drastic
> action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
> think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
> wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They cause
> little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people who
> love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.

The damage they cause is far greater than people who see them as lovely
animals know.

They kill birds and trees, they damage gardens by burying food, feed to them
by idiots, then forget where they buried it, so they dig up vast areas of
ground, digging up bulbs because they are stupid enough to imagine that
those things are edible to them.

So, don't look on them as nice things with furry tails, but as tree rats
which should be treated as any other form of rat, and kill the bloody
things.

Alan

>
>
> --
> Pest Effects

"Chris J Dixon" <chris [at] cdixon.me.uk> wrote in message
news:9lp2829id9g4uqmfu7ie84hr5lomn3siar [at] 4ax.com...
> Pest Effects wrote:
>
>>Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any drastic
>>action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
>>think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
>>wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They cause
>>little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people who
>>love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.
>
> My garden is regularly being disturbed by squirrels burying, and
> subsequently searching for, nuts left out for them by a
> neighbour. If they all went into his garden, there would be no
> problem.
>
> Maybe a sonic scarer is worth trying. Has anybody found them
> successful? Could keep the cats away too.

Don't try scaring them away, just kill the buggers, and remember that every
female killed is a thousand tree rats less!

Alan

>
> Chris
> --
> Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
> chris [at] cdixon.me.uk
>
> Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

Message from Alan Holmes <alan.holmes [at] virgin.net> on Sat, 3 Jun 2006
22:07:05 Re: Squirrels:

>
>"Pest Effects" <Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
>>
>> Josie Wrote:
>>> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
>>> know
>>> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
>>> available?
>>>
>>> Thank you, Joe
>>> --
>> Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any drastic
>> action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
>> think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
>> wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They cause
>> little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people who
>> love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.
>
I appreciate that some people may like squirrels because they look
pretty, but they are pests. They ravage costly bird food - they are
costing me a fortune in shelled sunflower seeds; they destroy birds
nests (even a tits nets box in my garden) and God help you if they
access your loft undetected.

I don't mind the odd one, even every day, but we're now inundated with
two or three almost throughout the day. I think they are nesting high
up in an apple tree!

I think poison will be the most effective solution.
--

Alan Holmes Wrote:
> "Chris J Dixon" chris [at] cdixon.me.uk wrote in message
> news:9lp2829id9g4uqmfu7ie84hr5lomn3siar [at] 4ax.com...
> Pest Effects wrote:
>
> Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any
> drastic
> action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
> think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
> wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They
> cause
> little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people
> who
> love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.
>
> My garden is regularly being disturbed by squirrels burying, and
> subsequently searching for, nuts left out for them by a
> neighbour. If they all went into his garden, there would be no
> problem.
>
> Maybe a sonic scarer is worth trying. Has anybody found them
> successful? Could keep the cats away too.
>
> Don't try scaring them away, just kill the buggers, and remember that
> every
> female killed is a thousand tree rats less!
>
> Alan
>
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
> chris [at] cdixon.me.uk
>
> Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

We to have problems with tree rats I have found shooting em the best
way to control them. we had them trying to get into the roof of our
home. I had to re wire a cottage due to squirrel damage and the cable
had to be in metal conduit, they also chewed through the plasterboard
of a ceiling, the whole room needed a new ceiling. Also we watched the
little buggers toss out a nest in a bird box and eat the eggs. Nice.


--
prof

"Josie" <Spam_Trap [at] ST.farrugia.org.uk> wrote in message
news:j0fTnXDigrgEFwdO [at] SpamTrap.domain.com...
> Message from Alan Holmes <alan.holmes [at] virgin.net> on Sat, 3 Jun 2006
> 22:07:05 Re: Squirrels:
>
> >
> >"Pest Effects" <Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
> >news:Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> >>
> >> Josie Wrote:
> >>> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
> >>> know
> >>> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
> >>> available?
> >>>
> >>> Thank you, Joe
> >>> --
> >> Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any drastic
> >> action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
> >> think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
> >> wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They cause
> >> little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people
who
> >> love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.
> >
> I appreciate that some people may like squirrels because they look
> pretty, but they are pests. They ravage costly bird food - they are
> costing me a fortune in shelled sunflower seeds; they destroy birds
> nests (even a tits nets box in my garden) and God help you if they
> access your loft undetected.
>
> I don't mind the odd one, even every day, but we're now inundated with
> two or three almost throughout the day. I think they are nesting high
> up in an apple tree!
>
> I think poison will be the most effective solution.

Perhaps if you were to stop attracting scavengers into your garden by
putting out food for them, they might move on?

Josie Wrote:
> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
> know
> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
> available?
>
> Thank you, Joe
> -- squirrels are a real pita, but don't use poisen it'll wind up killing
other wildlife or the neigbors pets. ask the neighbors to stop feeding
them or try spreading hot pepper over your beds. I just read that deer
repellant works on squirrels as well. I also read that motion activated
sprinklers will chase the little suckers away by soaking them. or get a
dog.


--
greengrass

Josie Wrote:
> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
> know
> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
> available?
>
> Thank you, Joe
> --
Our garden has always had squirrels 2-4 at a time and we put up with
the small amt of damage they did until one got into our loft space and
chewed up a ton of insulating fibre and the modem cable.
We were advised by the council to use a trap which we purchased from an
agricultural supplier. I seem to remember it was quite expensive to buy
but it was 8 years ago and I'm not sure.
We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood about
10 miles away and set it free.( be very careful if you do this they
become savage in the cage, wear thick gloves to carry the cage.)
The other squirrels in the garden seemed to disappear for a few years.
Perhaps we caught the only male, or only female and the others left in
search of mates.
They are now back with us but we are putting up with them for now. The
cage is still there!


--
trin

BAC wrote:
> "Josie"...
>>Message from Alan Holmes Re: Squirrels:
>>>"Pest Effects" wrote..
>>>>Josie Wrote:
>>>>>This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
>>>>>know whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
>>>>>available?
>>>>
>>>>Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any drastic
>>>>action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
>>>>think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
>>>>wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They cause
>>>>little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people
>>>> who love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.
>>>
>>I appreciate that some people may like squirrels because they look
>>pretty, but they are pests. They ravage costly bird food - they are
>>costing me a fortune in shelled sunflower seeds; they destroy birds
>>nests (even a tits nets box in my garden) and God help you if they
>>access your loft undetected.

Absolutely.


>>I don't mind the odd one, even every day, but we're now inundated with
>>two or three almost throughout the day. I think they are nesting high
>>up in an apple tree!
>>
>>I think poison will be the most effective solution.
>
> Perhaps if you were to stop attracting scavengers into your garden by
> putting out food for them, they might move on?

No, (especially) not in an urban environment. Mt. 177 or Mr. 22 is
your friend (so is Mr. Fenn Trap). Poison for these things is not
available retail for domestic purposes.

trin <trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood about
> 10 miles away and set it free

This is illegal. You are not allowed to release captured grey squirrels as
they are classed as pests.

"fenwoman" <fenwoman [at] gotadsl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:lJadnYtVcLjqKRXZRVnygw [at] pipex.net...
>
> trin <trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> > We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood about
> > 10 miles away and set it free
>
> This is illegal. You are not allowed to release captured grey squirrels as
> they are classed as pests.
>
>

It is a legal offence to release them into the wild, or to allow them to
escape, etc., but that is hardly a deterrent, given the likelihood of being
detected, apprehended and prosecuted.

fenwoman Wrote:
> trin trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk wrote in message
> news:trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood
> about
> 10 miles away and set it free
>
> This is illegal. You are not allowed to release captured grey squirrels
> as
> they are classed as pests.
Oooops, I did not know that. We were not told when we enquired about
methods of getting rid of them.
I just did read a bit on the net about this, which suggests we should
have released it into a bag then hit it over the head. Hard. Don't
think my nerves would stand it. Shooting was the other alternative but
I only have a water pistol.


--
trin

"trin" <trin.2951k2 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:trin.2951k2 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> fenwoman Wrote:
> > trin trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk wrote in message
> > news:trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> > We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood
> > about
> > 10 miles away and set it free
> >
> > This is illegal. You are not allowed to release captured grey squirrels
> > as
> > they are classed as pests.
> Oooops, I did not know that. We were not told when we enquired about
> methods of getting rid of them.
> I just did read a bit on the net about this, which suggests we should
> have released it into a bag then hit it over the head. Hard. Don't
> think my nerves would stand it. Shooting was the other alternative but
> I only have a water pistol.
>

Too late to worry about it now - and no harm done, either. One more or less
grey squirrel in an area already populated by the breed isn't likely to make
any significant difference.

The message <1149865091.3176.0 [at] proxy01.news.clara.net>
from "BAC" <casswalk [at] NOSPAMdircon.co.uk> contains these words:

> Too late to worry about it now - and no harm done, either. One more or less
> grey squirrel in an area already populated by the breed isn't likely to make
> any significant difference.

It does matter on several counts, if someone inadvertently moves
animal diseases around the country, or repopulates preserved woodland
with a pregnant squirrel, when much time energy and money has been spent
trying to remove them. Or, if they move grey squirrels into a
red-squirrel "pocket", or into a squirrel-controlled area where very
rare birds are nesting.

Janet.




--
Isle of Arran Open Gardens weekend 21,22,23 July 2006
5 UKP three-day adult ticket (funds go to island charities) buys entry
to 26 private gardens

"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john [at] zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:31303030393032394489C12D67 [at] zetnet.co.uk...
> The message <1149865091.3176.0 [at] proxy01.news.clara.net>
> from "BAC" <casswalk [at] NOSPAMdircon.co.uk> contains these words:
>
> > Too late to worry about it now - and no harm done, either. One more or
less
> > grey squirrel in an area already populated by the breed isn't likely to
make
> > any significant difference.
>
> It does matter on several counts, if someone inadvertently moves
> animal diseases around the country, or repopulates preserved woodland
> with a pregnant squirrel, when much time energy and money has been spent
> trying to remove them. Or, if they move grey squirrels into a
> red-squirrel "pocket", or into a squirrel-controlled area where very
> rare birds are nesting.
>

None of the locations you mention are 'an area already populated by the
breed'.

"BAC" <casswalk [at] NOSPAMdircon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1149441454.27922.0 [at] iris.uk.clara.net...
>
> "Josie" <Spam_Trap [at] ST.farrugia.org.uk> wrote in message
> news:j0fTnXDigrgEFwdO [at] SpamTrap.domain.com...
>> Message from Alan Holmes <alan.holmes [at] virgin.net> on Sat, 3 Jun 2006
>> 22:07:05 Re: Squirrels:
>>
>> >
>> >"Pest Effects" <Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
>> >news:Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
>> >>
>> >> Josie Wrote:
>> >>> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
>> >>> know
>> >>> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
>> >>> available?
>> >>>
>> >>> Thank you, Joe
>> >>> --
>> >> Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any
>> >> drastic
>> >> action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and also
>> >> think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
>> >> wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They
>> >> cause
>> >> little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people
> who
>> >> love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.
>> >
>> I appreciate that some people may like squirrels because they look
>> pretty, but they are pests. They ravage costly bird food - they are
>> costing me a fortune in shelled sunflower seeds; they destroy birds
>> nests (even a tits nets box in my garden) and God help you if they
>> access your loft undetected.
>>
>> I don't mind the odd one, even every day, but we're now inundated with
>> two or three almost throughout the day. I think they are nesting high
>> up in an apple tree!
>>
>> I think poison will be the most effective solution.
>
> Perhaps if you were to stop attracting scavengers into your garden by
> putting out food for them, they might move on?

I wasn't aware that great tits were scavengers!

Alan

>
>

"greengrass" <greengrass.28wpk5 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:greengrass.28wpk5 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> Josie Wrote:
>> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
>> know
>> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
>> available?
>>
>> Thank you, Joe
>> -- squirrels are a real pita, but don't use poisen it'll wind up killing
> other wildlife or the neigbors pets. ask the neighbors to stop feeding
> them or try spreading hot pepper over your beds. I just read that deer
> repellant works on squirrels as well. I also read that motion activated
> sprinklers will chase the little suckers away by soaking them. or get a
> dog.

Much more effective is to trap the buggers and kill them.

Alan
>
>
> --
> greengrass

"Alan Holmes" <alan.holmes [at] virgin.net> wrote in message
news:1Tklg.28290$lQ.23070 [at] newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
>
> "BAC" <casswalk [at] NOSPAMdircon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1149441454.27922.0 [at] iris.uk.clara.net...
> >
> > "Josie" <Spam_Trap [at] ST.farrugia.org.uk> wrote in message
> > news:j0fTnXDigrgEFwdO [at] SpamTrap.domain.com...
> >> Message from Alan Holmes <alan.holmes [at] virgin.net> on Sat, 3 Jun 2006
> >> 22:07:05 Re: Squirrels:
> >>
> >> >
> >> >"Pest Effects" <Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in
message
> >> >news:Pest.Effects.28t081 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> >> >>
> >> >> Josie Wrote:
> >> >>> This year the garden is inundated with grey squirrels. Does anyone
> >> >>> know
> >> >>> whether they take rat poison, or whether a special poison is
> >> >>> available?
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Thank you, Joe
> >> >>> --
> >> >> Your garden may be inundated with them, but before you take any
> >> >> drastic
> >> >> action, please consider what damage they are actually causing and
also
> >> >> think about your neighbours. We have squirrels that have become the
> >> >> wild pets of old folk who live near by and my disabled son. They
> >> >> cause
> >> >> little damage in the area since they are regularly fed by the people
> > who
> >> >> love them and look forward to their arrival in the mornings.
> >> >
> >> I appreciate that some people may like squirrels because they look
> >> pretty, but they are pests. They ravage costly bird food - they are
> >> costing me a fortune in shelled sunflower seeds; they destroy birds
> >> nests (even a tits nets box in my garden) and God help you if they
> >> access your loft undetected.
> >>
> >> I don't mind the odd one, even every day, but we're now inundated with
> >> two or three almost throughout the day. I think they are nesting high
> >> up in an apple tree!
> >>
> >> I think poison will be the most effective solution.
> >
> > Perhaps if you were to stop attracting scavengers into your garden by
> > putting out food for them, they might move on?
>
> I wasn't aware that great tits were scavengers!
>

Any wild creatures eating food people have left lying about in the open are
scavenging. People who put out food intended as bait for one particular
species they wish to see in their garden, but which is also attractive to a
wide range of species, shouldn't be surprised when all and sundry turn up
for the free feast. Nor even when predators learn to 'harvest' the
concentrations of creatures attracted to the garden.

Grey squirrels decimate 85% of song birds. They also invade the nests
of other birds. Furthermore, here where I live there are red squirrels,
trying to hold on as the grey invader multiplies beyond all belief.

Buy a simple air-gun, with a scope, and simply kill them, instantly and
painlessly, then skin them and put them in the pot. Squirrel is even
more delicious than rabbit or wood pigeon. (Just don't be tempted to
put the meaty-looking tail into the pot too - it disintegrates into
dozens of tiny bits of vertebrae!)

Ellie.

fenwoman Wrote:
> trin trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk wrote in message
> news:trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood
> about
> 10 miles away and set it free
>
> This is illegal. You are not allowed to release captured grey squirrels
> as
> they are classed as pests.
What then is the purpose of live-capture traps if the only thing you
are allowed to do is destroy the live-captured animal, be it mouse or
squirrel?

And what exactly is the point of a law that makes it illegal to move a
grey squirrel or mouse from one place to another place which is already
infested with them anyway? Has anyone ever been prosecuted for releasing
their live-captured mouse/squirrel down the road?

And while I'm at it, what exactly does my local council do with the fat
dormice (Myoxus glis, formerly known as Glis glis) you have to ask it to
come and capture if you get them in your house (living in the UK fat
dormouse hot-spot?), which it is apparently allowed neither to kill nor
release? Now at least there is some point to that rule, since probably
we don't want people introducing fat dormice where they are not.


--
echinosum

"Ellie Bentley" <eleanorrigby [at] myfreewebmail.com> wrote in message
news:4497e610 [at] news.greennet.net...
> Grey squirrels decimate 85% of song birds. They also invade the nests
> of other birds. Furthermore, here where I live there are red squirrels,
> trying to hold on as the grey invader multiplies beyond all belief.
>
> Buy a simple air-gun, with a scope, and simply kill them, instantly and
> painlessly, then skin them and put them in the pot. Squirrel is even
> more delicious than rabbit or wood pigeon. (Just don't be tempted to
> put the meaty-looking tail into the pot too - it disintegrates into
> dozens of tiny bits of vertebrae!)
>

That tail sheath is a very useful device for the squirrel. Not only does it
provide balance, it is used as a sun-shade, and for signalling, and
distraction of predators. Part of the tail sheath is detachable to allow the
animal to escape the grasp of a predator. It's a bit much expecting it to
taste good, too.

Although squirrels undoubtedly take some clutches of eggs and nestlings
birds, I believe these 85% estimates to be an exagerration, or there would
be very few songbirds in areas with a plentiful squirrel population. Is
there anywhere in the squirrels' range with a zero songbird population, even
those areas where grey squirrels have been established for decades?

Post removed (X-No-Archive: yes)

"echinosum" <echinosum.29nk84 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:echinosum.29nk84 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
>
> fenwoman Wrote:
> > trin trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk wrote in message
> > news:trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
> > We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood
> > about
> > 10 miles away and set it free
> >
> > This is illegal. You are not allowed to release captured grey squirrels
> > as
> > they are classed as pests.
> What then is the purpose of live-capture traps if the only thing you
> are allowed to do is destroy the live-captured animal, be it mouse or
> squirrel?

The purpose is to allow you to release (unharmed) non-target species, and to
permit the target animals to be despatched in a humane manner. According to
the Forestry Commission advice, that means either shooting the trapped
animal, or putting it in a sack and clubbing it to death, or taking it to a
vet for euthenasia. I did ask the RSPCA if drowning trapped squirrels was
'humane' and was told that if they were informed of a person doing that,
they would investigate and prosecute if it could be proven.

>
> And what exactly is the point of a law that makes it illegal to move a
> grey squirrel or mouse from one place to another place which is already
> infested with them anyway?

This is supposed to deter people from deliberately or recklessly releasing
into the wild a species which the powers that be have decided fall into the
invasive alien category. Although, as you point out, it's patently
ridiculous trying to close the stable door after the horse has well and
truly bolted.

Has anyone ever been prosecuted for releasing
> their live-captured mouse/squirrel down the road?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/text/print.html?in_article_ id=389976&in_page_id=1770

The moral being to do good by stealth, I suggest.

>
> And while I'm at it, what exactly does my local council do with the fat
> dormice (Myoxus glis, formerly known as Glis glis) you have to ask it to
> come and capture if you get them in your house (living in the UK fat
> dormouse hot-spot?), which it is apparently allowed neither to kill nor
> release? Now at least there is some point to that rule, since probably
> we don't want people introducing fat dormice where they are not.
>

They probably have some even fatter cats who take the law into their own
paws :-)

echinosum <echinosum.29nk84 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> writes
>
>fenwoman Wrote:
>> trin trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk wrote in message
>> news:trin.28x682 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk...
>> We caught the squirrel very easily and then drove to a large wood
>>> about
>> 10 miles away and set it free
>>
>> This is illegal. You are not allowed to release captured grey squirrels
>>> as
>> they are classed as pests.
>What then is the purpose of live-capture traps if the only thing you
>are allowed to do is destroy the live-captured animal, be it mouse or
>squirrel?

You can release it on your own land. Which may not be totally pointless
if you are releasing a mouse from your house into your garden.
>

--
Kay

BAC <casswalk [at] NOSPAMdircon.co.uk> writes
>
>"Ellie Bentley" <eleanorrigby [at] myfreewebmail.com> wrote in message
>news:4497e610 [at] news.greennet.net...
>> Grey squirrels decimate 85% of song birds. They also invade the nests
>> of other birds. Furthermore, here where I live there are red squirrels,
>> trying to hold on as the grey invader multiplies beyond all belief.
>>
>> Buy a simple air-gun, with a scope, and simply kill them, instantly and
>> painlessly, then skin them and put them in the pot. Squirrel is even
>> more delicious than rabbit or wood pigeon. (Just don't be tempted to
>> put the meaty-looking tail into the pot too - it disintegrates into
>> dozens of tiny bits of vertebrae!)
>>
>
>That tail sheath is a very useful device for the squirrel. Not only does it
>provide balance, it is used as a sun-shade, and for signalling, and
>distraction of predators. Part of the tail sheath is detachable to allow the
>animal to escape the grasp of a predator. It's a bit much expecting it to
>taste good, too.
>
>Although squirrels undoubtedly take some clutches of eggs and nestlings
>birds, I believe these 85% estimates to be an exagerration, or there would
>be very few songbirds in areas with a plentiful squirrel population. Is
>there anywhere in the squirrels' range with a zero songbird population, even
>those areas where grey squirrels have been established for decades?
>
Well, she did say they *decimate* 85% of song birds. Since the true
meaning of decimate is to kill one in 10, this would suggest grey
squirrels are killing one in 10 of 85% of songbirds, or 8.5% ;-)

I certainly couldn't make sense of the statement any other way.
>

--
Kay

K wrote:
> Well, she did say they *decimate* 85% of song birds. Since the true
> meaning of decimate is to kill one in 10, this would suggest grey
> squirrels are killing one in 10 of 85% of songbirds, or 8.5% ;-)
>
> I certainly couldn't make sense of the statement any other way.

OOK, "she" did not use "decimate" accurately but meant to refer to
recent reports that squirrels totally destroy about 85%.

Certainly here in my garden, very close to the top of two very tall pine
trees, probably about 150 feet in height, two large thrush nests were
quickly abandoned very shortly after they were created, some weeks ago,
and the two trees in question are part of the squirrel highway passing
through this property.

I too was brought up believing those little grey squirrels were the
cutest and most loveable of creatures . . . but then again in that
childhood world of Walt Disney I was instructed that ALL creatures were
adorable and each of them loved the other for their adorability. Not
so! It's mayhem and bloodshed out there!

Ellie.

Post removed (X-No-Archive: yes)

Ellie Bentley <eleanorrigby [at] myfreewebmail.com> writes
>K wrote:
>> Well, she did say they *decimate* 85% of song birds. Since the true
>> meaning of decimate is to kill one in 10, this would suggest grey
>> squirrels are killing one in 10 of 85% of songbirds, or 8.5% ;-)
>>
>> I certainly couldn't make sense of the statement any other way.
>
>OOK, "she" did not use "decimate" accurately but meant to refer to
>recent reports that squirrels totally destroy about 85%.

I just do not understand this statement. It does not square with the
observation that, even in grey squirrel areas, songbirds are not
declining that fast. Or does it mean that 85% of eggs are taken? - the
fact that birds have often two batches of several eggs being their
strategy for coping with a high infant mortality. A species where a pair
reared only 4 young to breeding age, and with each pair breeding only
once, would increase over a thousand-fold in 10 years.

--
Kay

"K" <k [at] scarboro.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xde7nkDc$xlEFw1V [at] scarboro.demon.co.uk...
> BAC <casswalk [at] NOSPAMdircon.co.uk> writes
> >
> >"Ellie Bentley" <eleanorrigby [at] myfreewebmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:4497e610 [at] news.greennet.net...
> >> Grey squirrels decimate 85% of song birds. They also invade the nests
> >> of other birds. Furthermore, here where I live there are red
squirrels,
> >> trying to hold on as the grey invader multiplies beyond all belief.
> >>
> >> Buy a simple air-gun, with a scope, and simply kill them, instantly and
> >> painlessly, then skin them and put them in the pot. Squirrel is even
> >> more delicious than rabbit or wood pigeon. (Just don't be tempted to
> >> put the meaty-looking tail into the pot too - it disintegrates into
> >> dozens of tiny bits of vertebrae!)
> >>
> >
> >That tail sheath is a very useful device for the squirrel. Not only does
it
> >provide balance, it is used as a sun-shade, and for signalling, and
> >distraction of predators. Part of the tail sheath is detachable to allow
the
> >animal to escape the grasp of a predator. It's a bit much expecting it to
> >taste good, too.
> >
> >Although squirrels undoubtedly take some clutches of eggs and nestlings
> >birds, I believe these 85% estimates to be an exagerration, or there
would
> >be very few songbirds in areas with a plentiful squirrel population. Is
> >there anywhere in the squirrels' range with a zero songbird population,
even
> >those areas where grey squirrels have been established for decades?
> >
> Well, she did say they *decimate* 85% of song birds. Since the true
> meaning of decimate is to kill one in 10, this would suggest grey
> squirrels are killing one in 10 of 85% of songbirds, or 8.5% ;-)
>
> I certainly couldn't make sense of the statement any other way.
> >
>

Ah yes, I hadn't considered a classical decimation of 85% of birds :-)

"K" <k [at] scarboro.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:FDeWgkJdr9lEFwyh [at] scarboro.demon.co.uk...
> Ellie Bentley <eleanorrigby [at] myfreewebmail.com> writes
> >K wrote:
> >> Well, she did say they *decimate* 85% of song birds. Since the true
> >> meaning of decimate is to kill one in 10, this would suggest grey
> >> squirrels are killing one in 10 of 85% of songbirds, or 8.5% ;-)
> >>
> >> I certainly couldn't make sense of the statement any other way.
> >
> >OOK, "she" did not use "decimate" accurately but meant to refer to
> >recent reports that squirrels totally destroy about 85%.
>
> I just do not understand this statement. It does not square with the
> observation that, even in grey squirrel areas, songbirds are not
> declining that fast. Or does it mean that 85% of eggs are taken? - the
> fact that birds have often two batches of several eggs being their
> strategy for coping with a high infant mortality. A species where a pair
> reared only 4 young to breeding age, and with each pair breeding only
> once, would increase over a thousand-fold in 10 years.
>

I believe the 85% was deduced by a professor at a London University, from
reviewing other people's reports and papers, for use by a 'save our
songbirds' pressure group, which wants to persuade people to kill squirrels
and sparrowhawks and cats.

Janet Baraclough wrote:
> I'd be surprised if they were two large thrush nests at 150 ft.

The trees are about 150', not the nests, though they are certainly very
high and without doubt, using bins, we observed regular daytime visitors
to be thrushes. Maybe this is another one of those unexpected
exceptions? For example, we have a Spotted Flycatcher on a nest of
three buff-coloured eggs. My books say the eggs should be
bluish/greenish. Research has proven that the eggs can certainly be
other than bluish/greenish - three or four different shades and
combinations in fact. There's more diversity out there than we wish to
cope with, I sense.

Ellie.