Re: Squirrels (was Kids (was Callum Home London


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Posted by Peter Ceresole on May 06, 2007 at 08:40:35 from 80.177.22.49 user PeterC.

In Reply to: Re: Squirrels (was Kids (was Callum Home London posted by Peter Roche on May 05, 2007 at 19:35:50:

We have plenty of Grey Squirrels but because people want houses to live in no more Deer!

Isn't it the same basic cause in both cases; competition for the habitat? Red squirrels live in the same places and eat the same food as grey squirrels. Any animal in its niche will use the maximum resources it can find, and reproduce to fill the niche. So it's very sensitive to any competition- the balance is quite sensitive. Unless there is some new factor, some extra unexploited resource that the animal can adapt to use, the introduction of a competitor can easily lead to a wipe-out.

There are several factors, which is why greys haven't completely taken over, everywhere. But just from observation, they seem to me to be bigger than reds and are clearly just as aggressive. Seems to me that this is quite enough to lead to the demise of red squirrels.

Having said that; here in London, by Richmond Park, greys are overwhelmingly in the majority. Out in the country, east of Geneva (starring James Dean as the confused rabbit?), they're all reds.


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