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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 15, 2007 7:36:49 GMT
No, you haven't got up my nose at all 4P. And I'm not knocking your campaign against rats. I would do exactly the same. I am trying to make my case for squirrels - a rodent that I don't consider to anywhere near as much a villain as the rat.
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 15, 2007 10:06:38 GMT
Hope this thread isn't going to end in tears you guys, I can see it's heading in that direction  |
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 15, 2007 10:14:09 GMT
Nahh... Well I hope not anyway.  I'm not having a go at anyone. And everyone is entitled to their opinions. I am not defending rats. I hate rats too. I would kill any rat I saw too. Now I hope that is clear. I have already stated this fact a number of times and it seems to be being ignored. Long may 4P's campaign against rats continue, it has my full support RATS ARE BAD - I AGREE Now, lets all have a group hug. |
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 15, 2007 10:24:27 GMT
Sleepy you forgot the group hug  READY STEADY  that was nice lets do it again |
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Post by sleepysunday on Jan 15, 2007 10:30:23 GMT
Thanks Chuckles - I'm not very good with these computee things |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2007 11:53:46 GMT
We have a family of three grey squirrels in a protected oak in next doors garden. They do steal the birds food and dig holes all over the garden but I think they are just part of nature in my area. The baby one is hilarious to watch, I swear it was pole dancing around a cane the other morning, I even saw it chasing its own tail If there were Red Squirrels in the area though I would have knocked the greys off by now but as there aren't any anywhere near us its live and let live... for now. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 15, 2007 17:47:20 GMT
Evening everyone. No, this thread isn't going to end in tears as far as I'm concerned! Just clarifying things, don't you know. I had one squirrel in my garden last year which ended up on top of a telegragh pole in the sunshine for 4 hours...I was worried about it! Then it discovered my beach hut and kept us entertained for another hour while it tried to work out how to get to the peanut hangers - I think it was a baby one. Haven't seen it since....I was even pleased when I saw a fox in the garden once - it wandered around the yard, had a little nose into Mum's French windows and mooched off - didn't touch the chickens at all....it was a beautiful thing.
There are some red squirrels in Thetford Forest - they are part of an attempt to re introduce them but no one knows where they are - sshh, secret squirrel!
If you support RATBUMS Sleepy - you really ought to pay for those coypu underpants...........! X
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 15, 2007 19:14:33 GMT
Well I wouldn't kill a squirrel...even though the cheeky little blighters are frequent visitors to my bird table! Most week days I walk through 'Castle Gardens' (Dutchy...there's the a photo of this on the Leicester Calendar I sent you!) which is a little haven close to the city centre...the canal runs along one side. It's a beautiful place full of interesting plants (as well as annual flower beds!) and always has a few squirrels running about. they're very tame and will take food from the hand. I sometimes take a few peanuts from the bird supplies to give them in the winter. the gardens are close to the De Montfort University so the students are often in there..feeding the squirrels chips.... |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2007 8:05:51 GMT
 I was surprised to say the least, well I was gob smacked actually after reading this in the garden section of the Telegraph today  Squirrels are less welcome visitors, damaging tree bark and raiding nests. They can be caught in metal cages but they must be killed as it is an offence to release a non-indigenous animal into the wild. Do this humanely by shooting or holding in a sack and giving a blow to the head. Sounds rather barbaric to me  I have now found the advice given by the RHS on their website www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0206/squirrels.aspThe reason I started this thread was because I was shocked that the RHS of all people would recommend "holding in a sack and giving a blow to the head" I wonder what the RSPCA's reaction might be? Although in the above link they do say "drowning squirrels by putting the trap in a water butt is not a humane method of dispatching squirrels". BTW I am not a member of the RHS!!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2007 11:21:29 GMT
I "believe" it is an offence to kill any wildlife inhumanely (I could be wrong), so those that are classed as foreign pests and should be gotten rid of fall under this category.
Guess it depends on the definition of a humane killing.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 16, 2007 19:34:46 GMT
On the way to work this morning I saw the most beautiful fox. It was about 0730 so not quite light...he was stalking about the tudor alms house gardens (near the castle gardens I spoke of in the earlier post) I was thrilled to bits. When you live in a city you just don't expect to see 'wild' animals. Even tho urban foxes are quite common one rarely sees them as they're nocturnal and I'm not....he/she was very sleek and healthy looking. Made my day ;D
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