Grey Squirrel Facts | Food

Date Published:: 30/10/2008

The River Cottage experts clear up the reds versus grey issue when it comes to our furry forest friends

Squirrels are classed as vermin and as such can be legally killed at any time of year. Whilst you don't need a licence for trapping, you will need permission from the landowner where you've decided to trap. If your back garden is not a favoured hang out for these little creatures, you could contact the owner of your local woods whether they're privately owned or managed by the local authority.

The Forestry Commission advises that traps must not be used in areas with an existing red squirrel population.

Traps must be checked at least once a day to avoid prolonged discomfort and stress; and where possible traps should be fitted with some built in shelter to keep the rain and wind off any trapped animals. The best time of year for trapping grey squirrels is between March and September, when their natural food is scarce (during autumn the availability of nuts, berries, fruits and cones significantly reduces the likelihood of trapping greys, with foraging activity tending to be limited on cold winter days). Once captured, it is illegal to release a grey squirrel back into the wild, so all trapped greys must be destroyed humanely.

The Forestry Commission supports and encourages the humane control of Grey squirrels and offers advice on this subject at: www.forestry.gov.uk

More information about the trapping of Grey Squirrels is available in the following Forestry Commission document (page 6 onwards):
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcpn004.pdf/$FILE/fcpn004.pdf

Find out more on the UK's edible wildlife with 4Food's guide to British game.

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Comments

Grey squirrels may be interesting to watch but they are not a native species and are doing alot of harm to our woodlands. They originated from America not from the UK.

Posted by Sophie on 15/10/2009 16:18:37

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I am from Ireland and have been culling grey Squirrels in a park when they have ousted the native red and also done huge amount of damage to the plants in the park. I do not enjoy what I do but realise that it is neccessary. Grey squirrels will unfortunately continue to prosper but that doesn,t mean we let them destroy the native red and also plants.

Posted by Declan on 27/07/2009 18:26:01

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Firstly, no one gets any joy from killing grey squirrels - that is a ridiculous thing to say. Secondly, grey squirrels are doing an enormous amount of harm. As well as being more agressive, greys are outcompeting the native red squirrel for food and so decimating their numbers. If the problem of grey squirrels is not sorted out quickly, our native red squirrels will be completely wiped out - possibly within fifty years. I fail to understand how people still cannot grasp this fact and realise that the culling of grey squirrels is a necessary act of conservation.

Posted by U on 18/01/2009 17:33:09

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I love Grey Squirrels, we have a few in our village, and i can spend hours watching them look for food, i don't understand why people get joy from killing animals that arnt doing much harm, it's not the Squirrels fault they got bought over from the US.

Posted by H on 16/01/2009 14:29:09

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I love Grey Squirrels. They are intelligent, tough and brave. Why do the British hate a survivor. Red squirrels prefer coniferous woodland. The Grey squirrel and I prefer deciduous woodland. Hurrah! for the grey squirrel.

Posted by Pat on 15/01/2009 23:15:26

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You are WRONG! Red Sqiurrels are classed as an endangered species and it is acriminal offence to kill any at all,---- irrespective the method !!! Greys are not indigenous ,----they are importees from U.S.A. by the usual stream of "know all do gooders" who were criminal in the extreme since the grey is the disease carrying VERMIN that is all but impossible to eliminate once established ! We justly hope that no one will get the idea that they can kill REDS --- as a result of your irresponsible initial statement.!!!!!!!

Posted by egroeg on 15/01/2009 21:53:05

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Should this article not have started with the word "Grey" as in "Grey squirrels are classed as vermin and as such can be legally killed at any time of year."

Posted by Mike-Soundcity on 01/11/2008 10:03:19

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