Cruelty to squirrels may be good for business but it's not justified (From Warrington Guardian)

Cruelty to squirrels may be good for business but it's not justified

YESTERDAY in Parliament a member of the opposition eloquently suggested that Warfarin was the only effective means of killing the grey squirrel. Later a minister added that shooting was not effective and visualised the noble lords opposite, all approaching the woods with shotguns suggesting the squirrel would die from a heart attack at the sight. Laughter from the lords followed. However I was disappointed to hear one noble lord suggest it was ridiculous to need the permission of Europe to apply this method. Jesus said "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without your heavenly Father knowing" and the noble lords are not so important that they shouldn't consider the extremely cruel method of poison they wish to apply to the grey squirrel and must, in this day and age, have a more humane alternative to those who have a vested interest in the matter.

When this question arose a year or so ago, I wrote the The League Against Cruel Sports for their opinion and discovered there was no other reason for killing the grey squirrel except that during the period of April to June they strip the leaves from bark of the valued beech tree. So I presume more folk have invested in these beech woods judging from the publicity for Red Alert leaflets and adverts on TV. The charming films of the intelligent grey squirrel overcoming obstacles ceased when Warfarin was proposed. In the late 1890's, 85,000 red squirrels were killed by the Highland Squirrel Club in the first 40 years and school children were told the grey squirrel persecuted the red although greys thrive on acorns unlike their cousins. I wonder if the grey, like the red will become an endangered species also or will "Business" still find an argument to justify their cruel treatment of these endearing creatures?

MISS A. JOLLEY

Stockton Heath

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