Squirrels!
Re: Squirrels!
And besides - Pine Martens are cool
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Re: Squirrels!
andrew_s wrote:reohn2 wrote:I believe there should be a program of reducing their numbers to an absolute minimum.Extinction isn't possible but native Reds would only prosper as a result.
Irish experience is that the best way to reduce grey squirrels and increase red squirrels is to increase the numbers of pine martens.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ne-martens
A pine marten doesn't usually catch a red squirrel because they can retreat right to the tips of the branches where the martens can't go, but greys are too big to do that. Apparently it's not so much that the pine martens eat lots of grey squirrels (though they do eat a fair number), but that the greys are so nervous when there are martens about that they don't fatten up enough for the winter.
I'm aware of that but are there enough Pine Martins to do the job?
Also once there's a healthy population of Pine Martins and job's done,what do the Pine Martins then eat?
By solving one problem do create another?
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
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Re: Squirrels!
Pine martens terrorising poor grey squirrels? %(
In natural conditions animal populations fluctuate a lot, after a snowy winter maybe half of the wild horses in the Carneddau died, in the next couple of years more foals were born and survived
The plague greatly reduced the human population of Europe (maybe there were *too many* people before) and maybe enabled society to grow and develop
In natural conditions animal populations fluctuate a lot, after a snowy winter maybe half of the wild horses in the Carneddau died, in the next couple of years more foals were born and survived
The plague greatly reduced the human population of Europe (maybe there were *too many* people before) and maybe enabled society to grow and develop
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
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Re: Squirrels!
Plague, yup, that would sort a lot of problems out!!
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity
Re: Squirrels!
I've had my front wheel (spokes) wrapped arounf a rat I don't know who was more scared the rat or me
Re: Squirrels!
Had a near miss once in Herefordshire. Squirrel just missed me, dropped by a hastily departing buzzard. I did not have a magic hat.
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Re: Squirrels!
Cyril Haearn wrote:The plague greatly reduced the human population of Europe (maybe there were *too many* people before) and maybe enabled society to grow and develop
The funny thing is ... people that advocate modern "de-population" never seem to include their own family in the equation .....
“Quiet, calm deliberation disentangles every knot.”
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Re: Squirrels!
Cyril Haearn wrote:The plague greatly reduced the human population of Europe (maybe there were *too many* people before) and maybe enabled society to grow and develop
Since this discussion of squirrels has broadened to include mention of plague, it might be noted that plague is still "entrenched" in the southwestern United States, where the bacterium Yersinia pestis resides in the rodent population, including rats, prairie dogs, voles … and squirrels. And yes, it is transmitted to a few humans every year. Happily plague can now be treated with antibiotics, so it seems unlikely that squirrels will have a hand in controlling human population growth.
Re: Squirrels!
Squirrel ran into the front wheel this morning. I'd swear it did a whole revolution caught in the spokes before falling out. Front wheel then went over it.
No sign of it after, must have scurried back into the bushes. I can't imagine it's feeling too well .
No sign of it after, must have scurried back into the bushes. I can't imagine it's feeling too well .
Re: Squirrels!
When I was a lad you could take your dead grey squirrel to the appropriate authority who would pay you 2 Bob for them. The scheme was abandoned in 1958 when they realised they couldn't control them by culling. http://www.greysquirrelcontrol.co.uk/hi ... ontrol.php
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway X2, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840
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Re: Squirrels!
Nearly picked up a squirrel in the front wheel last week. Today (in car) a huge buzzard swooped down (from the right) in front of my windscreen (almost onto bonnet?) and thinking better of it swooped up again - quite dramatic and spectacular (I was doing about 20mph at the time).
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Re: Squirrels!
rjb wrote:When I was a lad you could take your dead grey squirrel to the appropriate authority who would pay you 2 Bob for them. The scheme was abandoned in 1958 when they realised they couldn't control them by culling. http://www.greysquirrelcontrol.co.uk/hi ... ontrol.php
2 Bob! I must have been living in the wrong county. I thought it was only a tanner.
It's pity there aren't squirrel shoots instead of pheasant shoots. Would reduce the damage caused in the countryside.
"It takes a genius to spot the obvious" - my old physics master.
I don't peddle bikes.
I don't peddle bikes.
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Re: Squirrels!
You claim the prize!gaz wrote:Squirrel ran into the front wheel this morning. I'd swear it did a whole revolution caught in the spokes before falling out. Front wheel then went over it.
No sign of it after, must have scurried back into the bushes. I can't imagine it's feeling too well .
I recall standing under a tree when a squirrel missed its footing; it fell flat onto the tarmac underneath. It didn't look to well as it walked away.
"It takes a genius to spot the obvious" - my old physics master.
I don't peddle bikes.
I don't peddle bikes.