Cull of greys not long term answer says SNH paper

Thursday, 03 June 2010 14:18

Grey squirrel cull is 'not a sustainable solution' to protecting red squirrels concludes a consultation response document recently published by Scottish Natural Heritage.

In its consultation response entitled 'Protecting Scotland’s red squirrels' its key points state that grey squirrel control and should be considered only as a temporary measure until more permanent options are developed.

Advocates for Animals believes that it is unethical to kill healthy grey squirrels in an attempt to conserve red squirrel populations. We believe that resources should instead be focussed on humane long-term solutions.

Long term measures which were mentioned were habitat management to favour red squirrels over grey squirrels, development of a vaccine against squirrelpox virus and immuno-contraception for grey squirrels.

In August 2009 we responded to the consultation. Advocates for Animals' Policy Director Libby Anderson stated the following:

"We are concerned by the emphasis on killing grey squirrels as the primary means of controlling these animals, and we believe that alternatives such as habitat management should be given the greatest priority."

"We disagree with the view, expressed in the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Business Case that opposition to the culling of grey squirrels is a minority view and that “the majority of the public understand and accept the reasons for culling of grey squirrels.”

A national opinion survey commissioned by Advocates for Animals in 2009 showed that a clear majority of people in Scotland did not support a cull of grey squirrels.

You can read our full response here.

Read the SNH document here (link takes you to the SNH website).