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Posted: 27-02-2012 16:26 Post subject:

I don't see how the grey squirrel control to help the reds is any different from any number of other cull programmes that take place when an introduced, invasive non-native species threatens the existence of threatened native species.

The release of grey squirrels into the wild in the UK and subsequent decimation of the red squirrel population is a man-made ecological disaster, so do we then just sit back and say "Oh well", or do we try and act ethically to prevent the reds from being wiped out?

The same goes for control of introduced minks which have decimated native water voles, introduced signal crayfish which have decimated British white-clawed crayfish, and countless other similar examples around the world.

I guess it all depends on where you stand ethically on humanity's responsibility for cleaning up its own mistakes where it can, and I for one am reluctant to base the decision to control an introduced species on its cuteness.

Posted: 27-02-2012 17:50 Post subject:

Of course this is an ongoing problem in Australia. Rabbits and foxes were introduced solely for "sport", and have laid waste to entire ecosystems.

Cats were introduced as pets, and have wiped out native bird and mammal species. Despite this, attempts to establish cat free ecosystems have met with public outcry, and in some instances wilful sabotage.

Then there's the cane toad. Oddly enough, no-one has much of a problem culling them. I wonder why?

Introduced species will always be disruptive to the native ecosystem in some way. I don't know what impact Grey Squirrels have beyond displacing the Red Squirrels, but I shouldn't be surprised if it's affected a number of other species.

Posted: 27-02-2012 18:39 Post subject:

And I gather (re the above post) that things have been yet more so in New Zealand; most especially after European settlement got going there (though previously, the Maori had brought dogs on purpose, and rats by accident, and trouble started). Picture being in N.Z., pre-human arrival, there had been basically birds -- most species of those flightless -- with no significant predators (other than native birds of prey? – am not sure on that point). Predatory mammals were extremely bad news for the local bird life.

The rights and wrongs of man’s intervening – and to what degree – to try to moderate the consequences of his actions in such circumstances, can be argued about ad infinitum. I personally would find it sad, if humans were to take no measures to conserve native species, “wherever”, at threat from introduced ones (assorted justifications for so doing: scholarly / emotional / practical, viz. “maximum biodiversity is good”). Am aware that there are some who take on this matter, a very hard-nosed position of “the weak go to the wall”.

Posted: 27-02-2012 20:54 Post subject:

Posted: 27-02-2012 21:59 Post subject:

The mysterious "waitoreke", as treated of rather briefly and enigmatically by Heuvelmans? Or others, as of now unknown to me?

Posted: 28-02-2012 10:59 Post subject:

Posted: 28-02-2012 13:53 Post subject:

I was thinking of this one;

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10773-fossils-reveal-new-zealands-indigenous-mouse.html

Posted: 28-02-2012 22:14 Post subject:

Thanks. V. interesting -- not a creature expected to be found hiding out in any remote corner of the bush, though !

Posted: 10-11-2012 16:02 Post subject:

I being seemingly the chief red-squirrel fan on this sub-forum (though not the initiator of the thread, and a little bemused as to how a species which indubitably exists, got into the "Cryptozoology" category); will "carry on as before".

I seldom see television; but happened to catch a few of the recent daily-broadcast "Autumnwatch" series, transmitted from a location in the Scottish Highlands, and featuring various fascinating local fauna, including red squirrels -- the grey kind have not yet penetrated that far north. There was interesting discussion about the red-versus-grey-squirrel situation in Britain; an element new to me, which was mentioned, concerned squirrels' gathering in autumn of nuts, and burying "hoards" of them (and per folklore, then forgetting where they've buried them).

I learned that studies by biologists have revealed that grey squirrels are significantly better at recalling the location of, and recovering, their nut-hoards; than are red squirrels. Thus, yet another point in favour of the alien grey squirrel, letting it successfully compete with and oust, the native British red -- after the winter, red squirrels tend to be less well-nourished and weaker, and in a less good position to breed, than their grey rivals. I feel torn about this whole matter: in part, regretting the decline of the more lovable native red squirrel in the face of competition from the introduced American species; in part, feeling as per Darwinian principles, that the (in various ways -- this latest, just one of several) weaker and less fit species deserves, under competition, to go to the wall.

Posted: 10-11-2012 17:02 Post subject:

Not to worry the Welsh pine martens will save the day.

Posted: 10-11-2012 17:37 Post subject:

Posted: 11-11-2012 23:54 Post subject:

Posted: 21-01-2013 20:35 Post subject:

As seemingly the forum's chief red-squirrel-nut -- am submitting herewith, dispatch from the Isle of Wight front. I visited the island last week -- including a trip to the nature reserve on the island, mentioned in my 21/2/2012 post on this thread, where some degree of habituation is done by leaving out food for the squirrels. On my visit on Jan. 17th (the day before the "big snow"), for the three-quarters-of-hour I was there, red-squirrel action was plentiful -- a dozen or so sightings of what must, I reckon, have been at least three or four different animals. Trotting / climbing busily around, visiting the feeding-spots -- not tame enough to take from my hands, nuts which I had brought along; but I was within feet of them.

One is advised, if wishing for IOW squirrel encounters, to go to hoped-for venues in the first, or last, hours of daylight. Some months ago, I visited the "habituated" reserve told of above; but, around lunchtime -- "not hide nor hair" of a squirrel -- and not much bird activity. On Jan. 17th last, I made sure to call in, in the last couple of hours of daylight, on a miserable, grey day -- and squirrels were there in abundance.

Posted: 10-04-2013 19:19 Post subject:

As the forum's (I feel) designated-and-only red-squirrel-junkie -- am reporting herewith, from latest of frequent visits to the Isle of Wight. Most of week after Easter 2013 spent on the Island, with relatives -- objective, a round-island walk, with squirrels only secondary thereto.

Nonetheless -- it so happened that the holiday cottage at which we stayed, was extremely close to the nature reserve, in the eastern half of the island, in which squirrels have been, for the past couple of years, habituated. When we were setting out by car early one morning, to the start of the day's walk, the occupant of the "first car of the cavalcade" briefly spotted a red squirrel -- likely, he thought, two of them -- couldn't swear to the second.

Another day, back to base early, we went in the last couple of hours of daylight, to the reserve's understood bird-hide with secondary role as "squirrel central". After some minutes' suspense (lots of varied birds around, but...), we were rewarded with the arrival of a gorgeous red squirrel. Completely unafraid of people, he ran past us along the handrail paralleling the walkway to the hide -- thence many minutes' antics on a hung-up bird-feeder, and in and out of the hide; after which he ran into the undergrowth. Not long after, more of a similar performance by a red squirrel which might have been the first one, or might have been another. "Whichever" -- count self very satisfied red-squirrel-wise, by recent experience.