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!

www.wildlifetrusts.org/saving-species/red-squirrels

@BeaucoupFish

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

You need to step away and calm down. Hide the thread if it's affecting you this much.

Wow this thread brought out some interesting people

BeaucoupFish I'm not sure aggressive personal attacks on other posters is the best way to get your feelings across about your different dietary choices.

Hunting/fishing has long been part of what it is to be human. Unless all of our ancestors were psychopaths there has to be some acceptance that although you may not personally agree with eating meat that lots of others in large numbers do, and that it was the most normal way of living until very very recently.

Calling people names won't change that or win anyone over to your way of thinking.

@BigFatLiar

The red squirrel justification is nonsense. The numbers he can kill in his own garden will make zero difference.

No point in me recycling then or using less petrol, my bit won't make a difference.

It's not even slightly the same. Even if he creates a tiny area around his garden that is grey squirrel free that isn't going to enable red squirrels to move in. It's a post-justification to make what he's doing sound more reasonable. When in fact he is simply irritated by them eating the bird food he puts out. I bet if he had red squirrels eating his bird food he'd want to shoot them too.

Cruel

@Starcaller

Eh I wouldn't do it myself but then I eat meat where I don't know how it's been killed, I just have to take it on trust it's humane and that the animal didn't suffer. At least someone shooting and killing their own food knows its provenance. I'm not sure why people find that more abhorrent than cows or chickens being mass slaughtered. Seems to me like it's just because a squirrel is cute and furry and a cow isn't.

Agreed although calves are pretty damn cute!

@SexyNeckbeard

Wow this thread brought out some interesting people

Yup

This. People seem to have one rule for one animal and one for another. As has been said already, I assume everyone who thinks it’s cruel is a vegan?!

@Anordinarymum

Anybody who can stand and point a gun at another living creature and pull a trigger and destroy it is weird, and it shows lack of empathy and so many other things....... People like this make me shudder

That would mean the only people in the world who could have empathy are vegan, and clearly that's not true, so...

@AssassinatedBeauty

If lots of people in the area are doing the same though, as they are where I live, then he is absolutely making a difference collectively.

@AllThingsServeTheBeam

It's not illegal but it's vile

Agreed.

They also damage trees and can cause damage to peoples houses if they get into the rafters.

Not as much fucking damage as we do to trees

@SnugKnights do you really think there are going to be lots of people shooting squirrels in their back gardens with air rifles?? It's not at all the same as organised culls of grey squirrels in established red squirrel habitat.

Maybe @NettleMania could update as to whether her BIL lives in an area with an existing red squirrel population?

I was told recently that in the UK if a grey squirrel enters your home and you trap it, you are supposed to kill it. It's illegal to re-release it.

We have woodland and loads of grey squirrels, they damage the trees and take birds eggs. We cull them.

One made a nest in our roof. It cost £900 to get rid. I hate squirrels.

[quote AssassinatedBeauty]@SnugKnights do you really think there are going to be lots of people shooting squirrels in their back gardens with air rifles?? It's not at all the same as organised culls of grey squirrels in established red squirrel habitat.

Maybe @NettleMania could update as to whether her BIL lives in an area with an existing red squirrel population? [/quote]
Depends what you mean by lots of people I suppose and where I live they’re not just shooting them in their gardens. They’re not shouting about doing it either, because they’re aware lots of people wouldn’t be happy about it.

I think there's always people who enjoy a cull situation and will eloquently argue that they're doing some sort of favour by killing sentient beings.

@Frazzled50yrold

I think there's always people who enjoy a cull situation and will eloquently argue that they're doing some sort of favour by killing sentient beings.

Yeah.. and say 'cull' instead of the proper word for it

Same

"For those who wonder whether is it legal or illegal to shoot squirrels in your backyard, it is legal to kill squirrels in hunting seasons. If they are nuisance and have damaged your property, you can kill squirrels other times of the year but with a special permit."

www.intoyard.com/is-it-illegal-to-shoot-squirrels-in-your-backyard/

Damn. Wrong thread.

For me it depends if there is another way of deterring them, and if he is a good shot.
It's not going to help the red squirrel unless it's part of a larger strategy.
If he is injuring and maiming wildlife and causing suffering then it is absolutely not ok.
I think grey squirrel culling is reasonable, I am not sure about the viability of the wider reintroduction of red squirrel. I would like to see more pine marten and wild cats, but then they also impact on other wildlife.
It's usually impossible to affect one species in isolation without other negative consequences.

Cull is a proper word. HTH.