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Where have all the squirrels gone? - Dawn Hoskins (12th Oct 2011 - 09:33:00) Is it me? No squirrels around at all and our hazelnut tree is dropping nuts all over the place which are all normally whisked away before we even know they are ready.

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Eneida (12th Oct 2011 - 11:57:20) Well there's one in my garden right now!!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Rosie (12th Oct 2011 - 12:45:46) It would be too much to hope that they really had! They are a non-native species, driving out our own beautiful red squirrel. They are also commonly known as tree rats because of all the damage they do to trees - plus of course the devastation to our birds as they raid the nests in spring.

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Helen Hamblen (12th Oct 2011 - 13:49:23) To the Masterchef kitchen??

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - liz (12th Oct 2011 - 14:54:02) While the red squirrels are pretty, if the grey squirrels are tree rats, so are the red ones!!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Eneida (12th Oct 2011 - 16:33:16) I feel sorry for the grey squirrels!! It's not their fault they were introduced into this country as a 'novelty' in the mid 1800s...they were probably quite happy pottering about in their native USA minding their own business. Blame the Victorians...who are also responsible for the dreaded Japanese Knot Weed...

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - claire (12th Oct 2011 - 17:33:20) Maybe the government have reintroduced 'cashing in squirrel tails ' at the post office!! My great uncle used to do that .. YUK :)

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - A. Ryan (12th Oct 2011 - 20:07:03) Some people wont be happy till we wipe out our wild animals. A sterile countryside !! Leave the squirrels and pigeons and rats alone, they cause less problems than we do.

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Boris (12th Oct 2011 - 23:13:47) Barbecued Squirrel SERVES 4-6 2 squirrels, cut in pieces 3/4 cup red wine 1 cup water salt and pepper 2 bay leaves 2 large onion sliced 1 cup baby carrots 1/2-2 cups barbecue sauce Boil, then simmer, the squirrel pieces in the wine and water with the rest of the ingredients except the barbecue sauce. Cook covered for about an hour. Remove pieces, place in a baking dish, and cover with the sauce. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for another 45 minutes. That where my squirrels go!!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Paul Robinson (13th Oct 2011 - 07:33:56) I suspect I have one, or perhaps more, in my loft at work. I have laid down dishes of rodent bait but it does not appear to have been disturbed. I would like to get rid of him, or her, before they start on the electrical cabling. Any suggestions? Paul Robinson

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Stephen D (13th Oct 2011 - 10:03:15) Boris - are you sure about the quantities. If 2 squirrels can feed 4-6, there must be monster mutant squirrels in your neighbourhood. Please let me know what part of Liphook to avoid at night. More seriously, have you tried this and, if so, from where do you get your meat?

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Mary W (13th Oct 2011 - 10:23:12) Don't worry - the little nuisances are all here digging up my lawn. Pity I can't persuade them on to the weedy flowerbeds instead!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Boris (13th Oct 2011 - 17:21:46) Stephen I presently get my supply from road kill.It saves on gutting them because, due to the nature of their demise, they are probably gutted already. Once skinned you can just put the flattened squirrel in the freezer for later use on the barbie.Lots of meat on a squirral, and you can use the claws as tooth picks as well.Skin makes warm winter gloves and two large ones make a lovely pair of bed socks.Just remember to cut the tails off or else you can end up with bed socks all tangled up.

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Rosie (13th Oct 2011 - 20:07:35) Boris What joy to hear from a true connoisseur of the road kill. Ever tried hedgehog baked in clay - the spines fall off in the clay when it\'s opened. Seriously - to all those who care about our wildlife (and please don\'t try the hedgehog - they are a protected species) I care a lot about our countryside and wildlife. 99.9% of our countryside is man-made so we wouldn\'t have the fantastic diversity of habitats, flora and fauna without human intervention. So, no, I am not an advocate of a sterile countryside. Unfortunately there are a few species which do cause a lot of damage either to the environment, or other species (including humans) and as such have been classified as pests. Grey squirrels, rats and pigeons to name a few.

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Jane (13th Oct 2011 - 20:15:22) Dawn forget the squirrels. Please start looking a the dog poo problem. Numerous folk have mentioned the PC getting involved to resolve this issue. When the squirrels start doing their business all over the pavements and becoming a health hazard we'll care!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - liz (14th Oct 2011 - 08:36:22) Its certainly hard to avoid dog poo on this website!!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - A. Ryan (14th Oct 2011 - 19:55:10) Spent this afternoon in St James Park in London, squirrels galore, so tame they climb up your legs and while I was sitting on a bench, one peered over my shoulder while I was eating. Hundreds of pigeons, as well as the exotic ducks,everyone enjoyed their antics, taking photos and feeding them. If the Royals can have them in their \"front garden\" what is wrong with a few hanging out in the country. I feel some of you may have had a funny turn at seeing so many!!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - jenny (15th Oct 2011 - 17:45:48) Most of them obviously decided to have a break in London!! As the London bound trains the last 2 weekends have stopped at Haslemere and travellers on South West Trains are bussed to Guildford; they have decided it is too much trouble and returned! (not knowing they might be on "someone's menu!) Dawn, I too wondered where they had all gone, suddenly for the last few weeks there have been no squirrels hanging upside down and inside out, eating all my bird food - I got very excited!! BUT --- oh dear ---- saw one today! They prefer Liphook!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Boris (16th Oct 2011 - 15:10:42) Wow I am so pleased they are back in Liphook!!!! Had visions of having to go to St James park in the hope that somebody would tread on some tame ones..The disruption of train services over the weekends, increased price of the nuts I would need to get them within standing on distance, and all that tension involved was just too much to contemplate. Now with the school run twice a day and plenty of squirrels about somebody up there has His eye on me.

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Eneida (16th Oct 2011 - 16:34:21) If any local grey squirrels are reading this site I'd advice you to high-tail it to Lloyds Pharmacy and buy a bottle of L'Oreal red hair dye...then you could carry on behaving exactly as before and everybody would dote on you!!!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - A. Ryan (16th Oct 2011 - 16:58:25) If I didn't know better I would have thought the last post was written by the good old nutty mayor of London himself !!

Re: Where have all the squirrels gone? - Andrew (9th Feb 2012 - 21:01:51) Gone to anfeild football.club .Liverpool to play football --not cat -now--

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