Get the facts in one: Victimising Grey Squirrels Version 2 PDF
As a grey squirrel, I've watched with great interest and dismay the many news stories claiming that we are "aliens" to the United Kingdom, and killers of our friends the red squirrels.
As a senior adviser to Squirrel Natural Heritage (SNH), I feel it is my duty to try to dispel these myths and show that a lot of the "scientific evidence" quoted by conservation groups, and even government organisations, is based on a political desire to attain an idealistic version of nativeness, rather than a sensible realisation that humans are part of the environment, like ourselves, and we can all live together in peace. When you look in depth at what these organisations are saying, you find that even their definition of being "native" is quite questionable.
While we get on very well with humans, and have been very well able to adapt to the changes you have brought about in the UK, our poor friends the red squirrels have been less fortunate. Conservation groups are very keen to encourage the planting of "native" deciduous trees which just happen to be the kind of habitat we love to live in. In doing so, the many conifer woodlands once all over the UK have been decimated, and the Red Squirrels have been the unfortunate victims.
- "Nativeness" argument
- Red Squirrel's demise
- Poxvirus / Squirrelpox
- Damage to trees
- Effect on Bird Populations
- Dangers of Culling Grey Squirrels
- Save a Life, Feed a Grey
- Prof. Acorn replies to Scottish Natural Heritage
- Professor Acorn rejects the Grey Squirrel "alien" status
- Interesting Exchanges
Fun Stuff
We are also blamed for the poxvirus which is currently spreading through the Red Squirrel population. Having done extensive research, we have found that this virus also affected our population many generations ago, but those of us who survived developed antibodies which protect us. The Red Squirrels are in a similar position now, and provided humans give them a chance by not removing their habitat, a good percentage might well survive and be immune. This is the way that nature works!
So what is at stake? Well, if these conservation groups get their way, it is our very lives which hang in the balance! Cruel people are employed to "control" us, which means one of the following methods of killing us:
- Shooting us in trees, while damaging the very trees they're often so concerned about
- Poisoning us with Warfarin - a nasty chemical which causes our blood to go thin and we bleed out of our eyes, ears, nose, mouth and other places I'd rather not mention
- Trapping us in cages, and then putting a bag over the end of the cage, so when we get chased into it, we can be bludgeoned to death.
Tell family, friends, co-workers and others about this site. Don't be afraid to share the facts when you hear others blaming Grey Squirrels unfairly.
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Contact George Eustice MP telling him to take grey squirrels off death row!
George Eustice MP
Defra
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
(indicate your email is for the attention of George Eustice)
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Continue: Facts about the "Nativeness" argument >
Native by Birth - Condemned by Origin
