The Grey Squirrel as a Training Aid

[petlowe]

Were the squirrels taken at a feeder with your .22LR or just roaming about ?

A couple of feeders were put out for a week prior but none were taken at the feeder as much as in the area, may have helped but not directly.
The site is a brook valley with beech and birch and mixed ground cover, it was interesting watching them stationary until sunrise then moving around ground for food for the 3H after then going back to rest until repeating at sunset, they are definitely best to be chased during daylight hours as they go back up tree otherwise.

 

[25 Sharps]

All species are invasive if you go back far enough. I really don't understand this argument...

If greys were native- but did exactly as much damage as they do- would people hate them any less? I doubt it. Over half the British deer species are invasive- do you hate them too ?

Havoc and carnage arent the words i would use- i save such strong words for natural disasters, multiple car pile ups etc- but yes- lots of animals change their environment to survive. Does that warrant hate ?

I can't get my head around the idea of "hating" any animal personally. They are just following their instincts- as nature has designed them. And if we are to apply moralistic values and judgements to all animals- just for the fun of it- squirrels really wouldn't do that badly.

Just so I can understand the scale of your language- if grey squirrels cause "havoc and carnage"- how would you describe the typical effects of a tsunami?

Then you don’t understand ecology or ecosystems established over a long time which is the natural way of things and wrecked by the introduction of Non natives

 

[Klenchblaize]

Truth is I do most certainly like them and have afforded said wee critter a “season” in accordance with my respect for the sport they afford the thinking rifleman.

K

 

[25 Sharps]

Truth is I do most certainly like them and have afforded said wee critter a “season” in accordance with my respect for the sport they afford the thinking rifleman.

K

Trouble is that season, if coinciding with them breeding, probably coincides when they are doing the most damage to the nesting native birds.