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Subject: Grays in the UK Gray squirrels were introduced early last
century (20th) and have since pushed our native red squirrels to the
brink of extinction. Their last strongholds are on the island of
Anglesey north of Wales and in the north of England and Scotland. Only
in a few places do they dominate the Gray squirrels and in even fewer do
they co-exist.
The grays cause untold damage to
deciduous forestry and have put the continued existence of beeches at
risk in this country. Though the large beeches survive the younger ones
are killed off by the gray's territory marking (they ring the bark).
There is nothing more annoying apart form
feeding city pigeons than feeding gray squirrels! For fans of gray
squirrels I pose the question: which will it be and introduced species
of squirrel and no beech trees, or the native red squirrel and thriving,
varied deciduous woodland?
I know it's not their fault. They are
just animals doing there own thing, but it is humans that have disturbed
the natural balance in this and many other ways and it is humans who
must work to right our wrongs.
— David in East Sussex, United
Kingdom
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