Helensburgh Advertiser | Opinion | Article on squirrels did not tell the full story

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Thursday, 17th January, 2008 14:50

Article on squirrels did not tell the full story

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I was interested to read your article on red squirrels in last week’s Advertiser.

However, the article did not tell the full story as it avoided mentioning what happens to grey squirrels trapped in areas euphemistically called “cordons sanitaire”, and the fact that red squirrels are not quite as native as portrayed.

Conservationists are currently engaged in the “humane dispatch” of grey squirrels by clubbing them over the head with a blunt instrument, yet if the same happens to a human it is described as a “brutal murder”. Putting aside the argument of whether a human life is of more value than that of a squirrel, it is logical to say that if the method of dispatch is exactly the same there is little or no excuse for describing it differently.

“There is no datable fossil record for the red squirrel in Britain” (Source – Scottish Natural Heritage). At the turn of the last century, red squirrels became extinct in Scotland (Source – Forestry Commission) when over 80,000 were shot to prevent tree damage and at that time were described as “tree-rats”. This term is now being used, just as unfairly, to demonise grey squirrels. Red squirrels were then introduced to Scotland from Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe, so the current stock is not indigenous to this country.

Before reporting the whereabouts of grey squirrels, the public should be made aware of the consequences of their actions, which can mean the indiscriminate killing of these friendly and amusing animals.

In the interest of fairness, I would urge people to read the “Professor Acorn” website at www.grey-squirrel.org.uk for the “other side” of the story.

Angus Macmillan.

Meikle Boturich

near Balloch

Dunbartonshire

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