Grey squirrels in the firing line

A new survey has found that a majority of the British public believes that the grey squirrel population should be controlled

y4srAhTj2MFT8zZPecTWBQ.jpg
Grey Squirrel
Country Life's avatar
By
published
in News

Some 68% of the British public believes grey-squirrel numbers should be controlled in order to protect the native red, as a recent survey commissioned by the European Squirrel Initiative (ESI) reveals. About 65% were in favour of grey squirrels being removed altogether, if non-lethal methods could be used.

The survey also showed that 74.7% of those questioned between the ages of 16 and 24 support grey control. ‘These are remarkable figures,' says Miles Barne, chairman of the ESI. ‘There is now a real demand among the public to control the grey squirrel.

The survey also puts into stark relief Natural England's decision to grant licences, allowing captured non-native greys back into the wild. As a Government agency whose mission statement is to "conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscape and wildlife in rural, urban and coastal marine areas", these releases set a dangerous precedent and cause unnecessary alarm.'

Country Life
Country Life

Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.

Latest