BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!

Subject: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:08 PM

From this abcnews.com article: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/britain021108_squirrel.html

SQUIRREL 'TERROR' SWEEPS TOWN
English Town Goes Nuts Over Rampaging Rodent
By Stacy Puzo

L O N D O N, Nov. 8 — The small town of Knutsford in Cheshire, England, is resting easier after a menacing, bloodthirsty, though somewhat furry, terrorist was shot and killed by a vengeful grandfather.

Residents of K(nuts)ford (yes, squirrels do eat nuts) were reportedly "living in fear" after several unprovoked attacks over the past week by an American gray squirrel.

The victims included a woman who was bitten on the ankle while she was walking down the street and a man attacked while he mowed the lawn. The youngest person to be preyed upon by the vicious rodent was 2-year-old Kelsi Morley.

Out for a morning stroll with her mother, Kelsi had stopped to admire the squirrel when it reportedly pounced on her face and sank its teeth into her forehead.

The girl's mother, Karen Morley, was terrified. "It was awful because she was spinning around and we couldn't get it off," Morley told The Times of London. "From the amount of blood there was, I thought it had taken Kelsi's eye out." Morley then had to pin her daughter to the ground in order to pull the animal off her face.

The attack on Kelsi was the last straw for her grandfather, Geoff Horth. Saying he had received no help from local animal-control authorities, Horth took matters into his own hands.

Horth's wife told local media: "When Geoff saw what had happened, he just wanted to put a stop to it … if it had bitten a child's face, what would it do next? He didn't want any more children getting hurt."

Having no success on the night of the attack, Horth went out the next morning and hunted down the guilty squirrel and shot it with an air rifle. "He is sometimes asked by farmers around here to go out and shoot vermin on the estates so he knows what he is doing and he is quite a good shot," his wife said....

So, while Knutsford is now safe from its most recent squirrel encounter, one resident stated, "I will never trust a squirrel again."

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Schantieman
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:22 PM

Round here (one of the few remaining native red squirrel areas in England) they're known as 'north American tree rats".

Scope for a song here, I should think?!

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: MMario
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:25 PM

In our little corner of the world we have red squirrels, grey squirrels and black squirrels - they interbreed and it is not unuaual to see a red with a grey tail, vice versa, or blacks with either grey or red tails.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:26 PM

I thought this was going to be about those UK squirrels on Trigger Happy TV. If you choose Series 2 and click on the first picture, you will see them and the warning: Don't trust these squirrels!

Oops, click on Gallery, first!

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 04:06 PM

Mario, my understanding, and the understanding of everybody round these parts (where red squirrels abound, and greys venture at their peril ) is that the two do not interbreed.

I stand open to correction, however.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 04:17 PM

From the turn of phrase used I suspect that Mario is not English which means that he is not talking about the same species of squirrel as we do when he says "red"

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 04:38 PM

Mario's must be a different sort of Red Squirrels from the European species native to the British Isles, which are now extinct in most places in England. And these definitely can't interbreed with the Grey Squirrels who've taken over their ecological niche. I know that Grey Squirrels can in fact come in several colours, including black and confusingly enough, red...

We've got Grey Squirrels galore in Harlow - you can't go out for a walk without spotting a few, especially this time of year. And I've never heard of anyone having any trouble from them. I'm sceptical about this whole story. Round here anyone going out shooting squirrels would be pretty unpopular, and maybe a story about a granddaughter being attacked might be quite handy.

And how did he know which was the guilty squirrel - Grey Squirrels look a lot like each other, to those of us who aren't Grey Squirrels anyway. I'd be more worried about having some fierce old bloke wandering around firing off airguns.

Here's a picture of a European Red Squirrel, from Scotland; and here is one of a Grey Squirrel. The Reds are a lot prettier, but that's life.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Burke
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 06:50 PM

In the US the squirrels can get pretty aggressive & nasty, but I've never heard of a child being attacked.

Mostly we hear about European or Asian species that are taking over in the Americas, Hawaii, or Australia. It makes sense that these critters have gone the other way as well, but we just don't hear about it in the US. I wonder if there's a way to trade the squirrels for starlings?

I say shoot the things. They were a backwoods diet staple, you should be able to cook up a stew with it.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Melani
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:34 PM

That really doesn't sound like normal squirrel behavior. I certainly hope they checked the thing for rabies.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Bert
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 01:09 AM

I suspect that the squirrel must have been sick.

We have kept and tamed grey squirrels here in The States and they have never deliberately bitten us. Just an occasional nip by mistake when they were being hand fed.

They do have quite a temper though and will scream bloody murder and jump up and down like a two year old child if you dare to take their food away from them. Even then though, they don't bite.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Nemesis
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 02:41 AM

I believe that because of the issue with Red Squirrels in the UK nearly becoming extinct because of the GReys that there is a culling programme in certain areas and certainly they have now been classified as vermin (hence cullable ordinarily, as in ordinary members of the public could (legally) exterminate them (like rats)

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 04:06 PM

One of the good things about living on an island is that we don't have rabies. Touch wood. There have been worries expressed about how foxes might maybe sneak through the channel tunnel...

So a rabid squirrel doesn't sound too likely. Just one with an attitude problem. If it's true the way it's been told. (I suppose if you somehow cornered a squirrel it might bite you. Pretty well any wild animal would. But cornering a squirrel would not be too easy.)

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 05:07 PM

Squirrels don't generally trust people either, with good reason. Nor do they trust other squirrels. But I have never heard of one attacking people without provocation.

I like squirrels, always have, and do not begrudge them their share of "bird"seed (which is not produced from, by, or exclusively for birds...and therefore is NOT birdseed, but just "seeds" period).

Squirrels are cool. Long live squirrels, I say. Like rats, they are smart, capable, highly effective animals.

Sounds like this one, however, had gone crazy for some reason.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 06:31 PM

Drop a few on Bagdad, i say.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: The Pooka
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 06:32 PM

LH - "Nor do they trust other squirrels." Well. Except occasionally, one presumes. :}/ "Sounds like this one, however, had gone crazy for some reason." Watching Tony Blair on the BBC??

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 06:58 PM

American Red Squirrel- Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. Several subspecies. Pretty well across Canada and Alaska. Extends south in the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. Small, but agressive. We have one, the subspecies prebiei, living under our back deck.

The American grey (or black) squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis. In Canada, only in southern Ontario and Quebec, Part of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Established in Calgary and Vancouver by introduction.

The little red squirrel chases the larger grey out of its territory. It is more agile and aggressive. They do not interbreed.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 07:08 PM

For those interested in folk music and customs, Knutsford, the home (till recently) of the squirrel from hell,is famous for its Mayday celebrations, involving pictures made on the pavements( US sidewalks) with coloured sand, plus the usual bands and dancers. Also a fiddle tune called Knutsford Races, recorded by the celebrated Boat Band. Knutsford was named after the famous King Knut or Canute, who attempted to hold back the tide with no success. The Anglo-Saxons wrote his name as Cnut (the science of spelling being then in its infancy, later perfected by DH Lawrence).

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 07:28 PM

The Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris leucourus, was once common throughout the British Isles. It has now been mostly displaced by it's more pushy North American cousin the Grey Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis.

One of the Red squirrels' remaining strongholds is not far from me, at Freshfield near Southport on the Lancashire coast. It was a favourite place to take the children when they were toddlers, for a walk through the pine woods to see the squirrels and then the sand dunes and the sea.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: GUEST,Vigilante squirrel man
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 07:38 PM

Vigilante squirrel man

Have you seen that vigilante man
he carries a sawn off air pistol all over town
I bi'n hearin' hes bi'n shooting squirrels all over the land

Squirrels grey or red are lovely....leave e'm alone...

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 01:48 AM

Was there enough unpunctured area to make a tambourine or banjo head?

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Greg F.
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 10:48 AM

Squirrel is obviously linked to Al Quaida, Eye-Rack, and Muslim fundamentalism. They're gonna export Rodent Terrorism to the U.S. any minute now. Be Very Afraid....

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: gnomad
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 11:37 AM

Yes, a cornered squirrel will bite; I've seen it happen, and it took a lump the size of a large coin out of the lad's hand.

As he had chased the squirrel a fair way, then tried to pull it off the tree up which it was trying to escape, I always felt he got what he deserved.

We used the woods in question for years, and the numerous squirrels were never a problem, Kuntsford have certainly got a maverick if the story is true as reported.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 12:28 PM

Anyone who corners a squirrel can definitely expect a nasty bite. Squirrels are tough little characters and they're very fast. They usually take about 1 millisecond to make a decision about anything important.

We have numerous of the little red squirrels on this property (in south-central Ontario, Canada). No grey/black squirrels to be seen, so perhaps the reds have driven them away. There are lots of grey/black squirrels in all the towns hereabouts. They seem to do well in built-up areas for some reason. This may be because the red squirrels simply don't like those areas.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 12:56 PM

So your Reds in the States drive out the Greys; and your Greys over here drive out our Reds. Maybe our Reds should call in your Reds to even things up...

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 01:26 PM

The American red squirrel (at least the one in Alberta and western Canada) can subsist on spruce cones and twigs, and the bugs that use the spruce. The gray squirrels don't seem to use the spruce cones; they rob bird feeders and are ingenious. I have a supposedly squirrel-proof feeder but a couple of the greys have found a way- they are quite the contortionists. Tree difference may be the reason that they are separate in your area, Little Hawk.

About 1915, a man connected with the zoo released grey squirrels from the Toronto area in Calgary. They are now so abundant in the city that they are a nuisance to man and bird. There is talk of trying to shoot them out to reduce the numbers. They were also released in Vancouver.

Greys adapt to cities, are adept at climbing tall buildings and pester people eating lunch in parks. They gnaw holes in wood and nest in attics. Hand-offered food is accepted, but if the hand is empty, they bite to teach you to do better by them the next time.
If they interfere with the red in Britain, efforts should be made to reduce their numbers. It is always a mistake to introduce a foreign species.

The subspecies of red here in Alberta doesn't seem to invade houses for nesting purposes, but the one on the west coast does. My son and his family have a log house there. A red set up his home in an unused room, in a dresser drawer filled with old clothes. The mesh had come loose on a roof vent.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 05:23 PM

I believe you are exactly right, Q! It's the trees. We have just the right trees on our property to encourage red squirrels. The reds also are surprisingly aggressive about territorial rights, though, even more so than the greys.

I don't worry about squirrels eating "bird"seed. I just spread it here and there so both birds and squirrels can get some. If it's scattered thinly the birds get the individual seeds more easily than the squirrels can. It it's all in one container, the squirrels can empty it fast, so best to spread it around thinly.

I used to "fish" for grey squirrels in the backyard in Orillia, using a length of fishing line with a peanut tied on the end! I would cast it out into the yard, and an eager squirrel would generally grab the peanut within a few seconds, and take off for the nearest tree. He'd be brought up short when he hit the end of the line, and generally do a couple of head-over-heels flips and drop the peanut. Totally hilarious! The astonished rodent would then leap on the peanut again, sieze it viciously, and begin a desperate struggle to haul it away as I slowly reeled him in, foot by foot, across the lawn. Quite a struggle. One squirrel held on until I actually hoisted him a foot off the ground from the edge of the veranda. I was not inclined to pull him in any closer than that...

I got a lot of laughs out of these peanut tussles. The squirrels were less amused, but they never gave up trying to get the peanuts. One way or another they would always finally make off with at least half of the peanut in question, no matter how well I had secured it.

The one that got hoisted eventually figured out that all he had to do was sever the fishing line with his front teeth, and then he had me beat! LOL! Typical squirrel. They learn fast.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 05:58 PM

I feed them all one way or t'other. Even treats for the snowshoe rabbit who works the garbage in our neighborhood. Looking at some of the garbage tear-ups, I think we get the occasional coyote as well. My son in the Vancouver area gets raccoons and even opossums, who either made it to the west coast in a great exploratory expedition or were carried there. There is no range connection across the central US and Canada.
I will have to teach peanut fishing to my grandson.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 06:07 PM

Yeah. Just keep an eye on the squirrel, cos if he gets too close (like within 2 feet, say), he might get spooked and bite...but not likely. As long as the squirrel knows he can get away anytime just be letting go of the peanut, I think there is virtually no danger. They wrestle like crazy for that peanut! It's very funny. Use any strong thread or fishing line and tie the peanut securely around the middle before casting.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Pied Piper
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 07:49 AM

Hi Greg.
I really had to come to the defence of Canute. He is wrongly maligned as arrogant and stupid, in fact his attempt to stop the tide was designed to show his sycophantic courtiers that he was not omnipotent.
As to killer Grey Squirrels, I've never seen one that didn't run away, but all animals can be aggressive when necessary.
I think here in the UK there is no chance of removing the Greys from our ecosystems, so we just have to live with then.
All the best PP.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 08:48 AM

Red squirrels are alive and well and living in Scotland and the Isle of Wight; Beatrix Potter notwithstanding, the little grey devils can't cross the Solent.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 09:32 AM

Beatrix Potter's boating squirrels were the native Red variety.

There is said to be a colony of Red Squirrrels somewhere round the M25, on a little enclave of greenery that is cut off from the rest of the world by traffic, so the Greys can't get there. This may be an urban legend, but I like it.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 10:28 AM

There's a book by "B.B." (Denys Watkins Pitchford) called The Little Grey Men, about the last surviving gnomes in England (written in 1941 or 1942). The squirrels all go around saying things like "say, mac, what gives?" (I suspect he was tempted to write "what's up, doc?"). Well worth a read.

Steve

P.S. "Well worth"? Better report that on the English grammar question thread!

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Terry K
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 03:04 AM

We're surrounded by trees but it didn't stop the little effers from colonizing my roofspace. After that charming experience my neutrality turned to antipathy and now any that come near get the .22 treatment.

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 06:03 PM

What to do after the .22: Squirrel heads and gravy, for eats and/or tunes.

(Just to add a little music content to the thread.)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: American (squirrel) terrorizes UK!
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 08:03 PM

I have had "pet" wild sqirrels who ate from my hand and came when called. In Portland, my cats play tag with the local gray squirrels. Something was "wrong" with the attack squirrel. I too hope they tested for rabies.