http://www.grey-squirrel.org.uk/
As a grey squirrel, I've watched with great interest and dismay the
many news stories claiming that we are "aliens" to the United Kingdom,
and killers of our friends the red squirrels.
As a senior adviser to Squirrel Natural Heritage (SNH), I feel it is
my duty to try to dispel these myths and show that a lot of the
"scientific evidence" quoted by conservation groups, and even
government organisations, is based on a political desire to attain an
idealistic version of nativeness, rather than a sensible realisation
that humans are part of the environment, like ourselves, and we can
all live together in peace. When you look in depth at what these
organisations are saying, you find that even their definition of being
"native" is quite questionable.
....it is our very lives which hang in the balance!
While we get on very well with humans, and have been very well able
to adapt to the changes you have brought about in the UK, our poor
friends the red squirrels have been less fortunate. Conservation
groups are very keen to encourage the planting of "native" deciduous
trees which just happen to be the kind of habitat we love to live in.
In doing so, the many conifer woodlands once all over the UK have been
decimated, and the Red Squirrels have been the unfortunate victims.
We are also blamed for the poxvirus which is currently spreading
through the Red Squirrel population. Having done extensive research,
we have found that this virus also affected our population many
generations ago, but those of us who survived developed antibodies
which protect us. The Red Squirrels are in a similar position now, and
provided humans give them a chance by not removing their habitat, a
good percentage might well survive and be immune. This is the way that
nature works!
So what is at stake? Well, if these conservation groups get their way,
it is our very lives which hang in the balance! Cruel people are
employed to "control" us, which means one of the following methods of
killing us:
Shooting us in trees, while damaging the very trees they're often so
concerned about
Poisoning us with Warfarin - a nasty chemical which causes our blood
to go thin and we bleed out of our eyes, ears, nose, mouth and other
places I'd rather not mention
Trapping us in cages, and then putting a bag over the end of the cage,
so when we get chased into it, we can be bludgeoned to death.
All of these methods of "controlling" us are termed as "humane" - we
call it murder! What can you do to help?
Tell family, friends, co-workers and others about this site. Don't be
afraid to share the facts when you hear others blaming Grey Squirrels
unfairly.
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Contact Hilary Benn MP telling him to take grey squirrels off death
row!
Hilary Benn MP
Defra
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
bennh@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
to include your name, address and postcode to ensure your
email gets due attention
Continue: Facts about the "Nativeness" argument >
Native by Birth - Condemned by Origin
Facts about the "Nativeness" argument
Grey Squirrels are often termed as "aliens" by the conservationists
and government bodies who blame them for killing the "native" red
squirrel. However, this isn't as clear cut as you might think!
First of all, the very definition of "nativeness" used by these
organisations is based on political boundaries and associations,
rather than by the actual range of species or the birthplace of
individuals. To demonstrate how meaningless this is, a polar bear from
Alaska would be regarded as "native" to the Nevada deserts, simply
because it is a "native species" of the USA. This is clearly an absurd
definition!
Key points at a glance
1. "Nativeness" is based on political boundaries rather than sensible
concepts of the range of a species, or the birthplace of individuals
2. Evidence to sup****t the "nativeness" of red squirrels in the north
of the UK is extremely low
3. Humans are part of the environment, and therefore as legitimate a
means of trans****ting species as any other natural means
4. Most Red Squirrels currently in the UK are also "aliens" by
conservationists criteria. They were im****ted from Scandinavia to
replenish numbers. "Nativeness" is often decided on the basis of those
animals or plants which have existed in an area following the last ice
age. Squirrel Natural Heritage (SNH) recently carried out a study and
found there is actually little or no evidence suggesting that the Red
Squirrel has a natural range reaching much further north than
Derby****re during this time. Indeed, in all probability, this was the
very edge of its range, which stretches all the way from the Far East.
Different species are trans****ted all the time across the planet by
birds, wind and tides. Conservationists argue that a species is not
native if it is introduced (intentionally or accidentally) by humans.
In effect, they are taking the ridiculous step of excluding humanity
from nature, despite humans having had the greatest effect on the
planet of all species!
If, however, you do entertain the concept of "nativeness" put forward
by the conservationists, then the vast majority of the Red Squirrels
currently in the UK are no more native then Grey Squirrels, having
been introduced to the UK from Scandinavia, among other areas,
following local extinctions of the true "native" reds.
....it is our very lives which hang in the balance!
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