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It seems that Prince Charles has not only given Royal Patronage to the Red Squirrel Survival Trust but has advocated the complete elimination of the 'alien' Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from all UK woods (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Prince-Charles-Supports-Calls-To-Exterminate-Grey-Squirrels-Which-Threaten-Native-Red-Squirrels/Article/200906115295647?lpos=UK_News_First_UK_News_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15295647_Prince_Charles_Supports_Calls_To_Exterminate_Grey_Squirrels_Which_Threaten_Native_Red_Squirrels). In a speech to the Country Land and Business Association, he blamed the Greys (along with deer-introduced by his ancestors) for damage to our remaining woodland. The RSPCA, hoping to be more kindly, favour implanting these rodents with contraceptives. However, other teams with traps are converting thousands of Greys in some parts of the country into human food (in pies and pasties). I certainly accept that Greys are more damaging to woodland (and not as attractive?) than are Reds but personally think that it is highly unlikely that the Greys can now be eliminated from these islands. The contraceptive scheme seems a complete non-starter and would certainly not be a 'stress-free' option.
7 comments:
Let's try the contraceptive implant on the royals first - if it stops them breeding pests we can use it safely on the squirrels.
Like it, wish I'd thought of that!
It could be interpreted as one out-dated genetic remnant batting for another!
Parallels (not the royalty bit) with our rabbit, possum, deer, goat, pig, rat, cat, dog, rainbow trout, wasp... the list goes on and on of fauna species introduced to NZ that have impacted severely on native species....
And don't get me started on the flora!
Contraceptives for squirrels? Pshaw!
Here the acceptance (except on some off-shore islands) is on control rather than elimination, (which is probably impossible) - which for possums is trapping, or the controversial '1080' poison.
Maoris might add the British to their list of introductions impacting on native species..
Oh Rob, they do, they do!
But, strangely (after hundreds of years), other people seem intent on 'reintroducing' European beavers back to the UK and, in Wales, the elimination of the alledgedly bovine-TB transmitting (but distinctly native) Badger is on wish lists. It does seem slightly dodgy as there is no way of accurately predicting what will happen. The species that humans encourage (and the ones they want to just disappear) don't always seem to be the result of a wholly rational calculation.
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