Grey Squirrel Control

[@nigelwylie01]

Thank you for all you are doing to protect our vulnerable population of Red Squirrels in Cumbria. I noticed a decline last time I visited Keswick Bridge. They used to be numerous, and last time I didn’t see a single one. Something has to be done if we are not to see them disappear from there, as they have done in most other places in England.

[@WOODLANDSTV]

Hi Nigel, thanks for your comment and the support for the channel. It's incredibly rare to see any Red Squirrels here in the south of England where we're based and tragically becoming far rarer elsewhere as you describe. It's an emotive subject but we can't allow the expediential population increase of one invasive species, animal or plant, to eradicate another, especially an ancient native one.

[@pauldurkee4764]

In the UK we have a problem with conservation, people in conservation won't accept the idea that species such as grey squirrel and magpie are contributing to the decline in bird species, they won't accept that control is necessary.

[@WOODLANDSTV]

Hi. It's a very controversial topic, but one that often doesn't consider the wider impact to native species as you highlight. Thanks for your input.

[@gavinbrooks2178]

Can i trap greys in a larsson trap in my back garden ? Theyve decimated the birds nests in my area ?

[@pauldurkee4764]

As far as I understand it's not against the law to trap squirrels on your property, you also have to dispatch the squirrel humanely. There definitely needs to be action taken, in my part of the world, South Wales, public parks are heaving with squirrels, and of course people are feeding them.

[@WOODLANDSTV]

Hi. Thanks for your question. Advice form the RSPCA is that it's not against the law for grey squirrels to be caught and dispatched, including live-catch cage traps or approved spring traps. If you're using a live-catch trap, check it several times a day and dispatch any captured grey squirrels humanely.

[@monchavo]

Videos are useful and informative. Please reconsider the use of music - it doesn't add to the production values at all.

[@WOODLANDSTV]

Thanks very much for your input. We're looking at that at the moment for our future films.

[@haroldellis9721]

I trapped some grey squirrels, and told the boys' mother, "I'm going to take them to a farm in up state New York." Missing the Americanism, she observed, "Isn't that a long drive?"

[@WOODLANDSTV]

Ah.... A nice answer to a delicate subject!