Red squirrel vs the 'demon' grey....is a cull the right way?

So as its only my 3rd blog i wanted to avoid being too controversial (she says), but this is a subject i feel the need to have input on and express my personal views. Peoples knowledge on the Red vs Grey squirrels varies, so ill start from the beginning of what i know. Red squirrels are native to England, Grey's are not. Unfortunately Grey's carry the squirrel pox virus, which although doesn't affect them as carriers as they, it seems, have developed immunity, it is lethal to Reds. I have seen a Red with very early onset of the virus and it wasn't nice to see, it causes skin lesions/ulcers over the face feet and genitals, as well as causing shivers and lethargy, ending in starvation/dehydration causing death. As you know i personally love Red Squirrels, as a photographer they have been my main subject and have entertained me for many hours, i support Red squirrel conservation without a doubt and love and respect all the hard work volunteers are doing! BUT.....(yep there it is) ... why do we as humans feel the need to kill everything? I get so sickened when posting photos in wildlife groups on #Facebook the utter disgust and contempt shown towards Grey Squirrels and comments on how to kill them and why we should (foxes/badgers too but that's a whole other debate). If you are religious, didn't god create all creatures great and small? I'm not religious myself, but i choose to trust in mother natures ability to make and evolve animals and believe they have as much right to exist as we do. I do not understand where this entitlement as humans came from that we decide what species lives and which dies. Reds are in decline, which i agree needs working on, but Greys are being blamed so lets not ignore the reason that Grey's are here in the first place! (same as mink and thousands of other non native species) : Humans! The reason being, as far as i can find while researching, is rich folk back in the 1890s decided they quite fancied having an exotic species running about their grand gardens and estates, so they imported Grey squirrels from North america as live ornaments. Also another fact that often gets ignored is that Reds were actually already in decline before Grey's 'took over'! due to humans (again) destroying their habitats and to them already suffering from disease, Reds were not thriving anyway. Whether we like it or not they are the weaker species. Grey's can live in any environment, hence we see them more in built up areas. They can also digest lots of different food whereas Reds diets are quite restricted, like their habitats. Grey's also breed more often and bigger litters making number's rise easier. So yes! our Red squirrels certainly need help surviving, but killing off a species that has been thriving here since the 1800s just does not sit quite right with me. We are so politically correct and anti racist now (rightly so) yet why does this not extend to the other living beings we share a planet with? maybe these people intent on wiping out non native species are not up to date with this yet? Grey's are accused of preying on birds nests too yet as far as i can see there is absolutely no evidence to support this theory of murderous squirrels, i suspect its a ploy to get birdwatchers on board with the cull. Hard to believe now as a nation of people that love their little ear tufts and cute noses, but Reds themselves have not always been as adored by humans! Apparently in the early 1900s 20,000 reds a year were sold to meat markets in London (surely this alone contributing to their demise). Also mass culls took place by foresters, killing thousands (around 85,000) of Reds for stripping bark. I understand their livelihoods were effected, i am just pointing out the hypocrisy here of simply blaming Greys so certain people can justify the slaughter. Another bit of history ignored to suit the cause. So why this holier than thou attitude towards people that love ALL squirrels? We can boost Red numbers by increasing the amount of suitable habitats, which is already happening, but also hard when humans keep multiplying at a rate of knots. Also surely Greys could be humanely trapped and relocated to areas where Reds would not thrive? If you have time to sit and wait with a gun you have time to set a trap lets be honest. Or would that ruin their fun? Course it would. I do not want Reds to be wiped out and am so grateful for the conservation that is going on. But lets take responsibility and act humanely. Yes Greys may out compete Reds but they are not purposely killing them and by far from being their only threat. There MUST be a better way. As they say, opinions are like bumholes, everyone has one. This is purely mine. Lets stick to shooting squirrels with a camera !

EDIT: 10 minutes after writing this I read a news update that they may try contraceptives with the Greys (putting in food that presumably Greys dont eat?) which if works would be an ideal solution! I will watch updates with great anticipation!

#redvsgreysquirrels #redsquirrels #greysquirrels #iscullingthesolution #nativespecies #controversialgreysquirrel #notocull