Would you eat a grey squirrel in order to save the red squirrel? Back in March, Lord Inglewood, patron of North West Red Alert, suggested that very thing to prevent red squirrels from being as subject to squirrel pox (carried mostly by greys) and to give the red a greater foothold on the landscape. "What I would like to do is to invite each and everyone of the frontbench Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department team to the hotel in the Lake District where I am a director ... to dine on grey squirrels to launch an eat a grey and save a red campaign." Presently, the Mammals Trust UK is advocating a more conservative solution (which is funny since they're not even politicians like Inglewood) involving altering tree cover and age composition. Please drop on by the MTUK site and answer their poll on what endangered Scottish animal needs the most protection: the red squirrel, wildcat, water vole or European beaver.
So, would you eat one? Post yay or nay! [GT]
Save Scottish Species - but which one? | Grey squirrel curry anyone? | Jamie 'must back squirrel-eating' (video)
[Don't forget to vote at Trashionista, Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
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Noooooooo I couldn't eat a squirrel, not ever! I remember reading a Larry McMurty book where the main character shoots, cooks and eats a (red, presumably) squirrel in the first few pages and I couldn't read any more! x
Well I don't eat red meat, so nay for me too, but I have to say I don't understand why we have to kill one in order to save another .. aren't they equally valuable? I know there are a lot more greys than reds, but still. There are a lot more men than women at Nottingham Uni but no-one's suggesting killing and eating the men (as far as I know).
It makes me think of that thing they did in China where they (prepares to show extreme ignorance) killed a load of birds and then the bugs (which were usually eaten by the birds) ate the crops. Something like that anyway.
yeah, I agree Keris... fair enough humans ruined the balance of nature by importing species, but let's not make things any worse! x
Probably.
I'm currently living in Manchester, where greys add some oft needed cuteness to the city. But my parents live in Cumbria, just down the hill from one of the red squirrel "reserves". So, yes, I would eat a Cumbrian grey squirrel providing it had been humanely killed and cooked in an interesting way.
Thanks for agreeing with me, Diane. I checked these comments expecting one saying 'what are you talking about, you demented fool!' :)
Yay, I'm happy to eat pretty much anything, particularly if it's wild and fresh. I don't see the point in eating greys just to save reds. Greys are plumper than reds anyway with more meat anyway, reds are cuter and less tasty: ergo eat greys and leave reds.....If it's good enough for Hugh F-W it's good enough for me.
Nay - couldn't do with that furry tail hanging out of my squirrel burger!
Being a veggie I wouldn't eat a grey squirrel. Though I do think they are verminous creatures, just rats with big tails really, so I positively encourage my spaniel to go after them in the hope that one day she will catch one. Alas she never has done and she's 12 now so guess she never will
Camilla, that sounds like a euphemism! :)