S&C TV | Red squirrel conservation: controlling greys with Mick Garvey

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

I’m going to jump in quick here and say a massive thanks to all the supporters and suppliers who made this video possible … Therm-Tec for their superb cyclops thermal spotters, Hawke optics for the awesome Sidewinder scope & Endurance binoculars, Air Arms for the brilliant s510 tactical airgun , Thomas jacks for the game changing Spypoint trail cams … this video couldn’t have been as successful with out you … thank you one and all

[@screwpull1]

Hi Mick, I'm in the market for a light weight waterproof jacket. Can I ask what jacket your wearing? Looks like it would be just the thing I'm after. Cheers and keep up the good work! Steve.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi Steve … it was just a craghoppers from go-outdoors but I’ll be using a shooterking jacket next time out … worth the extra for the quality and is silent when walking … which is a necessity

[@lancsvermincontrol]

Really enjoyed this episode. I do enjoy controlling the greys and it’s nice to see an episode which isn’t just about foxes and deer. Interesting to look at the smaller quarries out there.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

great comment Lance

[@ianturpin9180]

I saw my last red squirrel in teignmouth 1961. Since then I have harvested many grey squirrels, they make good eating.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Wow that is some time again Ian … good to hear you’re making full use of them

[@davidbilbrough3726]

You are doing a great job. My brother and I try to control the greys in various parts of Northumberland . A couple of places very close to where reds have been seen: but it is a never ending battle as there so many areas where they can breed, consequently we can shoot 8 off four feeders then two days later shoot another 4! One day we had 13! Every year we now shoot over 200 whereas we only used to average 80 for years. I don't know what the answer is- pos a bounty? Or access to more areas, as the general public are more aware now. BUT, they still feed them in public parks.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi David … great comment and a great job you’re doing … education is of paramount importance … the more people understand what we do the better the chance of us getting on top of the greys … there certainly has been an increase in numbers over the last few years so we need to stay vigilant

[@ddoherty5956]

Really interesting to hear from people doing good work and making a big difference.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Totally agree … we need to keep at it and share our experiences with other conservationists and the public

[@robertbellwood46]

Well done Mick, great work. I'm doing the same thing in my area with very similar kit, I've made my own feeders and I've had very high praise from a couple of local land owners. It's very satisfying to be doing worthwhile work. Let's keep on the the little grey terrorists.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

It is so satisfying when people recognise and appreciate what we do … sounds like your on top of your game Robert

[@ecoangel7876]

Keep up the good work, Mick.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks mate … appreciate the comment

[@markhomer5704]

Superb episode , excellent shooting and a fantastic insight into the work that goes on while we live our normal lives day by day , ( normal as in 9 - 5 jobs ect ) , there seems to be an abundance of greys around where i live in the West Midlands this year , in the last week alone I've seen to 3 of them off our garden bird feeder , there's loads more around , but haven't ventured into my space as of yet , but I'll be waiting , doing my " bit " so to speak .

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi Mark … you are absolutely right there has been an explosion of grey sightings .. we have to stay vigilant for the sake of the reds and other wildlife threatened by the greys … sounds like you’re doing a great job too

[@philipballard8083]

It was fantastic to see the reds

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Glad you liked it Philip … the reds are a great sight

[@keithhaynes8079]

Sadly in my area the greys are out of control in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire there are plenty of air gunners like people of my age 70 plus that have been shooting for many years with pest control in mind. It has been 50 years since I last seen a red squirrel in these area I would give my service free if people like the Forest Commission and National Trust gave me permission to do this work.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks for the comment Keith … it’s a sad affair when this sort of pest control is not common place … hope you get something sorted … it sounds like it’s badly needed

[@ecoangel7876]

Hi Keith. I belong to a red squirrel conservation group in Northumberland. I'm retired and I'm out every day controlling grey squirrels. It's become a full time job. In my experience Forestry England have very little interest in grey squirrel control or red squirrel conservation for that matter. Red squirrels just get in their way because, in theory, their presence should prevent them felling trees. Unfortunately, the trees are felled anyway, red squirrels present or not. It all seems to be about making money and there's no money to be made in letting someone control the greys in the woods. If you want to pay them money to go in and shoot deer, I think that would be a different matter.

[@stuartbingo]

My favourite air gun quarry has always been the grey squirrel. Don’t get out much these days as it’s hard to secure permission in East Sussex! Great video thanks 🙏

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks for the great comment Stu … hope you manage to get out on a permission sometime soon

[@nbowie698]

Great episode and a topic close to my heart. We're lucky enough to have reds coming to the garden but alas also with some greys. Really lucky to have a permission right next to us where I can deal with any greys that I don't dispatch in the garden. Use a feeding station and am slowly dealing with the furry grey tree rats.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi and thank you for sharing your grey control with us … sounds like you really have it covered there … keep it up mate

[@jaygoode8940]

Awesome as ever, keep up the good work

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks Sam great comment mate

[@alex79buckland]

Well done great work your doing pal

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks Alex … appreciate you saying that

[@mikeheasman2594]

2.5 million was the estimate from 1990's I believe, newer estimates on the population of eastern grey squirrels is around 6 million.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks for the comment Mike … most reports and studies I have seen estimate the greys between 2.3 and 2.7 million … haven’t seen the 6 million figure but nothing would surprise me

[@adl2005]

Great vid. I mostly trap the greys, i started last may. last year i had 53 and since feb this year i've had 17.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Great work going on there … we’ll done … trapping is a great way to keep on top of the greys while being elsewhere

[@suefenwick2081]

excellent work

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thank you so much Sue

[@deanharrison4160]

Good work Mick 👍

[@deanharrison4160]

It’s all the fieldcraft that goes in first, then the wait just to get a couple of shots,it gets the job done 👍

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks Dean

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Absolutely … so much goes on behind the scenes that creates a successful day.

[@SiAnon]

I live in South London and all the squirrels round here are grey but in my garden they are all dead.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Shame you don’t have any reds

[@DARRELLGRIFFITHS]

We’ll done sir, excellent work. Have you found a non-lead pellet that would be capable of continuing this vital job if the Lead ban comes into effect.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi Darrell … I’ve been working closely with a certain manufacturer but all still a bit hush hush at the moment … I still have my views on how it will pan out but we will have to see

[@DARRELLGRIFFITHS]

@@mickgarveyairattackmia4722 OK thanks for the reply, tell the certain manufacturer to put their skates on as im totally fed up with wasting money on non Lead. Some well known manufacturers should be dealt with by trading standards for some of their offerings air rifle ammo. God I a hope you or who ever find something or we are screwed, the Lead thing is bull in my opinion. All the best and I hope your testing goes well and keep up the good work on the squirrels.

[@PiperX1X]

How are you liking the tactical buddy, I’m loving mine so flipping accurate.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi Johnathan… it truly is an awesome air rifle and I’m honoured to have been involved with the development

[@deet1558]

The grey squirrels around have been robbing the red hair dye out of boots since they heard this lad was around the place.

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

🤣🤣 that’s a good one … thought the hair dye was in short supply

[@davidbetts480]

Hello, it is amazing work you are doing. Do you do anything with the grey squirrels once you have shot them?

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Always do something .. either strip them out for the freezer, pass them on to a bird of prey keeper or even put out for fox

[@davidsammels2124]

Keep up the good work, grey tree rats do a lot off damage, great informative video 👏👏

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Thanks for the great comment David

[@scooby2435]

Brilliant work your doing, was there talk of developments in a sterilisation drug of greys ? Do you know much about it ? If so are there any breeding and release programs for the reds when the greys are gone . ?

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

There have been many studies and reports on the subject but as you can imagine it has to be target specific and it’s early days yet

[@CORVIDHUNTER]

Telephone Mick 🤣 showing your age bud 😉 Quality video me olde 👍

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

🤣🤣… true mate mobile telephone 😵‍💫😂

[@PiperX1X]

Oh and can I ask where you got your Magpul bipod from?

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Yeah no problem … air arms stock plenty of the magpul accessories now …

[@metalheadz07]

Hi Loving your channel Can anyone help how is best to shoot greys I have plenty of wooded area near where I live but it seems to be very public ie dog walkers any help much appreciated

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi … 1st thing is to make sure you have it can get permission to shoot on the land … public right of ways are going to be difficult but do the legwork and hopefully things will fall into place … but be aware shooting on land without permission has severe consequences

[@mikeheasman2594]

You need permission to either trap or shoot on land. A feeding station setup with a good backstop in an area away from public access is the easiest way to shoot them in large numbers.

[@malcyjb]

Shooting on land without permission, written, is seen as Armed Trespass even with an air rifle or pistol, and carries a ten year prison sentence with unlimited fine.... so be very careful... in fact if you dont know that in the first place you shouldn't really have a air weapon...

[@sparks6057]

Can you say with confidence you can continue to protect the indigenous Reds in the event of a lead ban ? This cause could be all that is needed to swing the balance it’s hard for the activists to counter or go against conservation !

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Absolutely … I have my own thoughts on how the lead ban will go but there are people out there developing alternatives to lead but this still in the early stages … whatever happens I and my fellow rangers will carry on with the conservation

[@garyrobinson4561]

what ft lb rifle are you using

[@petenikolic5244]

Just wish the people around here were not so lovie dovie about the darn greys they trespass into my garden they dont get out again but my on neihbour is a real pain on my case every flaming time cant get it into his skull at all i am right on the fringe of the west midlands in north Shropshire and cant find any organised grey control at all being retired i have time to carry out control

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Hi Pete … said it before but education is key to getting these people on board. I find once they see the reds or even worse see a red with the pox and understand how it comes about they tend to be more accommodating… greys are an unwanted invasive species and will wipe out the red squirrels if left unattended to

[@johnseabrook1703]

I have the same problem with neighbours, thankfully my hw100 is whisper quiet, can take the greys out, neighbours totally oblivious

[@roberthowe2910]

Keep those numbers down....

[@mickgarveyairattackmia4722]

Trying my best along with every other pest controller … appreciate your support Robert 👍🏻