Squirrels

Along with other species of animals and birds, the grey is classed as vermin. The term is used for those creatures that are regarded as being a potential threat to humans, detrimental to the environment through crop damage or, if allowed to breed in large numbers, to have an adverse effect on the diversity of other indigenous species.

However one may feel about it, mankind has managed the natural environment, for better or worse, for generations.

The grey squirrel presents a number of problems in terms of its impact.

They will take eggs and chicks from breeding birds in the spring and can cause significant damage to trees by stripping the bark.

Perhaps less well known is their destructive nature should they gain access to your property and, of course, they carry the squirrel pox that is deadly to the red squirrel.

Should the need arise to “manage” their numbers then, as vermin, no licence is required for a cull.

They can be caught live or killed humanely, but it is illegal to release them back into the wild.

As they are territorial they will make their way back to you from a great distance.

The RSPCA’s advice is to make your garden squirrel proof. If this proves difficult then they suggest taking them to the vet to be humanely dispatched.

Geoff Hill, Darlington.

HOW lovely to read the article by Harry Mead about the squirrel that visits his garden.

When I was working I used to have a squirrel visit my office.

The office was on the ground floor in Stanhope Road, Darlington and, as soon as I opened the window, in came my little friend, whose name became Tommy.

One year I planted some strawberry plants and was so happy to see some strawberries ready for eating.

When I arrived one morning, who should I see but Tommy sitting happily munching away at the strawberries.

I couldn’t chase him away so he carried on enjoying his meal.

It is so nice when people are sympathetic to animals and birds.

Doreen Turner, Thirsk