Brother in law shooting grey squirrels

[NettleMania]

Is this an okay thing to do? AIBU to have a go if it's in his own garden?

I'm a bit conflicted as I have a live and let live attitude towards animals, but BIL swears it's not illegal to shoot them, that they're vermin and have chased off all our native red squirrels and that they're eating all the food he puts out for the birds.

He has tried other ways to get rid of them, but they are determined. My DS just shrugs and carries on with her knitting!

Genuine question and I'm aware it's a bit goady but I really don't know the answer.

Vegans, I'm going to guess at least 95% don't have the land to grow all their own produce, which means farms, surely these farms that grow the vegtables use pest control?

So by trying to protect animals because you won't eat them, you're actively ensuring they are killed?

How do you rationalise that to yourselves? Are there Vegan farms that use other methods to keep out rabbits etc?

Honestly intrigued.

@Bujinkhal

Genuine question and I'm aware it's a bit goady but I really don't know the answer.

Vegans, I'm going to guess at least 95% don't have the land to grow all their own produce, which means farms, surely these farms that grow the vegtables use pest control?

So by trying to protect animals because you won't eat them, you're actively ensuring they are killed?

How do you rationalise that to yourselves? Are there Vegan farms that use other methods to keep out rabbits etc?

Honestly intrigued.

Google has lots of answers! Eg www.veganfriendly.org.uk/articles/vegan-pest-control/

Thanks for that, will have a read.

Not many farms are vegan, at least in over a decade of working with farmers I have never come across one.

Even organic farms use pest control, anything from organic-approved pesticides like copper sulphate, to tillage and shooting.

Even basic soil cultivation kills an awful lot of living animals.

@Ihaventgottimeforthis

Not many farms are vegan, at least in over a decade of working with farmers I have never come across one.

Even organic farms use pest control, anything from organic-approved pesticides like copper sulphate, to tillage and shooting.

Even basic soil cultivation kills an awful lot of living animals.

One option for those genuinely concerned about not killing even pests is to eat windfalls only.

One option for those genuinely concerned about not killing
even pests is to eat windfalls only.
An even better idea would be to turn it into booze. That way you won't be as concerned about the legal killing of vermin.

So, these carrots...

Have been murdered, yes.

@K4fkaesque

So, these carrots...

Have been murdered, yes.

Now you're just being silly.

Sorry, just quoting Notting Hill...

Seriously, can you actually have a balanced diet just from windfalls?

They're a pest, and also very destructive if they get into your house.

@K4fkaesque

Sorry, just quoting Notting Hill...

Seriously, can you actually have a balanced diet just from windfalls?

Depends on how wormy they are 😂😂

They are on the menu in certain restaurants in the uk

What a vile, cruel man.

@Blondewithredlips

What a vile, cruel man.

Do you call your local Rentokil man that works in all of the nearby food establishments vile? What about the person that puts your house spiders outside?

There's absolutely no difference.

Squirrels are destructive little sods despite their storybook connotations.
I had an infestation of them in my loft. One died and the smell was horrendous and a multitude of flies were in attendance. I used a pest control person who trapped them and took them away for £20 a head.
Then on to find their access. They had nibbled through the bird guard on the newly installed pvc soffits. They are best kept at bay.

Meh, couldn't care less. His property, his business. I wouldn't do it, but I don't care if anyone else wants to control the population, so far as they can.

Grey Squirrels are like rats with cute fluffy tails. They cause lots of damage to roofs locally, and eat stored grain rapidly. I had an ex girlfriend who used to shoot them in the nude from her bedroom window. Waking to gunfire is not the best way to start the day.

I don’t have an issue with getting rid of vermin, I had a terrible mice infestation a few years ago, I tried humane catch and release miles away but living rurally this made no difference they still came. I snap trap now and have had no infestations since. Rather this than the chew through my wiring AGAIN and potentially cause a fire, sorry

@Slippy78 I do. I don't know how anyone can kill any sentient being.

[quote AllThingsServeTheBeam]@Slippy78 I do. I don't know how anyone can kill any sentient being. [/quote]
It's not difficult when you're protecting vulnerable valued animals.

@justasking111 we don't have red squirrels here so they aren't vulnerable here. And I certainly don't value them over grey squirrels.

@Blondewithredlips

What a vile, cruel man.

Not really, shooting a Grey is a quick way to control an animal that strips bark, leading to disease and early death of the tree, not to mention branches falling off...

My neighbour regularly shoots 10 or 15 per week with .410 gun.

Rats in cute suits.

it's not difficult when you're protecting vulnerable valued animals.

And how do you work out the value of an animal

If you tried a combination of windfall, foraged wild food and roadkill, you'd have a better chance. Winters would be harsh.

Perfectly legal. They are vermin.

I've just had to remove a family that thought they could move into my loft.
As long as he is a competent shot, shooting is kinder than trapping or poisoning.