When I was a child, the local woods had several hundred red squirrels and most would eat out of your hand but urbanisation drove them away. Later greys infested the woods and we welcomed them as “substitutes”, not knowing the damage they caused. If we’d killed them at that stage then we wouldn’t have a problem now … 
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That must have been wonderful, sounds idyllic! Yes, if only we’d had the foresight years ago…
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Have you thought that the male grey Squirrels won’t need to cling onto their nuts any more?
I put this video up probably years ago but worth another look. If I lived in the UK I would catch them in a possum trap (or whatever the European equivalent is) however eating a rat is not high on my list of gastronomic delights
BTW this bloke is on my subs list - the idea of “Kent Survival” (his channel name) quite tickled my fancy. Being more than 10 minutes from the nearest Tesco must be hell indeed. 
Reading all of the above posts I have come to the conclusion tgat you are all nuttier than squirrel shit! 
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What’s got a hazelnut in every bite — not just Topic!
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I have lived all my life (so far) in the Hew Forest and have seen the damage these greys (Tree rats) do to the trees and the sooner they are elimitated the better. Not only the damage to trees they also will raid nesting wild birds and the young chicks. which would you rather see wild birds or be plagued with these tree rats.( That is what they are called among the forest keepers). To those who look at them as cute little critters, corner one and then see what happens. I have learnt to never corner one as they really are dangerous.I would never corner one as I value my blood and wish to keep it. Cute little critters? Don,t you believei it
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Yes, that is true Ben, they have a very nasty bite if they choose to use it.
Many years ago, one bit right throught my ex-husband’s thumb, nail an’ all.
He was only trying to help it, too!
(Nice to see you back, by the way). 
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Nice to be back. Since my last visits, many moons ago. I have spent much time in hospital. Three heart attacks. One stroke but I am back with you and intend to stay there I have reached my 95th now Iam looking forward to my 96th. Still lokking for someone like Tottenham, West Ham and even Man utd but so far not a whisper. Who said look on the scrap heap?
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Aww, sounds like you’ve had a tough time, Ben.
Let’s hope the worst is behind you now, and it’s all good from now on.
Really well done on your positive thinking, too. God bless ya.
Gosh @BigBen I am so sorry to hear about your ill health, but am amazed at your ability to embrace technology such as this! I look forward to seeing more posts from you! 
Good on yer Ben…Great to see you back… 
Many thanks for your good wishes. Now to get down to business. Looking at the clock it will maybe tomorrow.
By the way I,ve not looked proberly but are their views of this Ukrain, Russia war?
Yes we have this which started on the day Russia attacked Ukraine
https://forum.over50schat.com/t/ukraine-attacked/89405
I agree. Eradicate them. I don’t know what the best method could be used. Poisson or shooting or something else… What ever there will conscience objectors.
Good that your health got better!!.
I don’t see how they could be poisoned, Besoeker, because how would you stop other creatures eating the bait too?
Also, any wildlife that decided to eat the dead squirrel, would probably also be poisoned too.
This is what happened with slug pellets, and carelessly placed mouse/rat bait. It also kills the Owls, hedgehogs, and other animals that feed off the carcass.
[quote=“Mups, post:56, topic:92335”]
I don’t see how they could be poisoned, Besoeker, because how would you stop other creatures eating the bait too?[/quote]
Yes, that’s a fair point. Maybe contraceptives is the way to go. Just seems a bit extreme. How yould administer it? And what would be the cost? I dunno…
Do the squirrels have any natural enemies? Other than man of course. Perhaps we could introduce something that would catch and eat grey squirrels. Or better still, give them a virus that only affects them. We are pretty good at developing viruses…
Not a bad thought…
I remember that being said about rabbits as well, Omah, remember the horror that was Myxomatosis? Myxoma virus was the first virus intentionally introduced into the wild with the purpose of eradicating a vertebrate pest, namely the European rabbit in Australia and Europe
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