Tiverton farmer's war on squirrels
PRINCE Charles declared war on squirrels, saying they were wreaking havoc on Britain’s ecosystem.
Now a country sports fan says his fight against the little mammal has been going on for years.
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Rod Brammer is intent on ridding the area of grey squirrels MARK PASSMORE/APEXNEWSPIX.COM
Rod Brammer, 67, claims there are barely any grey squirrels left where he lives near Tiverton.
Not only does he reach for his shotgun every time he sees one, he has also enlisted the help of all his friends and neighbours to kill the ‘alien’ species.
“I will be very happy when the last grey squirrel is under a glass canopy in a museum, stuffed,” he said.
Mr Brammer, who is hoping to set up a bird sanctuary at his farm in Shillingford, sets traps for the creatures, which are then usually dispatched with a rifle or air-rifle shot to the back of the head.
“When I first wanted to make this place a bird sanctuary I knew we had to get rid of the squirrels but we found that hunting them down and shooting them was too slow. The land was just overrun.”
He collects the squirrels’ tails in an empty gun box — a hangover from times gone by when forestry officials would pay the public to do away with squirrels.
“I’ve been shooting squirrels since I had my first gun aged 10,” he said. “It was one shilling a tail when I was a boy, and two shillings later on.”
He claims that grey squirrels are now a rare sight locally because his cull has been taken up by friends and neighbours.
For those who are squeamish, he is happy to install traps, and then send round Matt, his son, to do the rest.
Earlier his week, the Prince of Wales joined the call for the grey squirrel to be wiped from these shores. “It is absolutely crucial to eliminate the greys which, as you know, are an alien species to the UK,” he noted in a letter to the Country Land and Business Association.
Grey squirrels outnumber the red population in Britain by about four million to 150,000. Not only are greys bigger, but they reproduce quicker and carry a pox which kills the reds. Many conservationists have supported Prince Charles, blaming the greys for spreading disease, destroying trees, wrecking homes and gardens and killing birds.
The RSPCA, however, said that a cull would be cruel and would fail to keep populations under control.
An RSPCA spokesman said: “We are concerned about the welfare of both red and grey squirrels, and believe that control must not be interpreted solely as lethal control.”
14 Comments
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by ReeceFowler
Wednesday, April 25 2012, 9:25PM
“We eradicated Greys from my friend's farm and it has been pretty much Grey free ever since. Since then, we have had many songbirds, including yellowhammers, which I had not seen before in real life. We've also had many more birds such as Robins and Wrens in the wood.
A local bird lover got us to remove the Greys from her garden on the edge of said farm. out of the 50 we got that year, 30 were in her garden.
They didn't move back as quickly as we expected. It's been two years and this year is the first time they have been present again in any noticebale numbers. The farmer has shot some in his garden, and we've shot and trapped one or two in the woods.
Grey Squirrels are not native to this country. They are not in this country naturally, and they are a serious threat to our native species. It isn't nice having to kill the Squirrels, but it is a necessity if our native species to survive.
BN, Cullompton, keep your prejudices to yourself please.
Kim, Teighmouth, the Greys are not in this country naturally. Survival of the fittest refers to natural selection, and the Grey problem is man made. Reds have a niche in our countryside, the Greys don't. The Red should be protected at all costs.
Angus MacMillan, the racism argument is laughable. It is not racist in any way. A non native species threatens a native species, the non native species must be removed. End of. The Grey Squirrel is not here naturally and has no niche in our countryside. Stop trying to redefine the word "native".
I see why it may seem cruel, but you need to look past the "cute and cuddly" factor and look at the terrible damage these vermin animals do to our ecosystems. The Greys need to be removed.”
by Pete, Exeter
Friday, June 12 2009, 7:51AM
“We all miss the varieties of smaller birds that there used to be. To give them a chance, we have to reduce the large number of squirrels and magpies - which steal the birds' eggs. I support Farmer Brammer. It's not "nice" - but I think it is necessary - if you want any birds apart from rooks, crows, etc.”
by Angus Macmillan, Balloch
Thursday, June 11 2009, 8:38PM
“The cull of grey squirrela is quite wrong
If one looks closely at the concept of ¿native species¿ it can be seen as no more than a concocted doctrine dreamed up by those who present speculation as fact. So much so, they have had to introduce different categories of ¿nativeness¿ to accommodate their agenda.
In reality, rather than in the arbitrary world of conservation, these wallabies were born in this country are as ¿native¿ by birth as we are, irrespective of our ancestral background. What example is it to younger generations that violence and killing is an acceptable solution to a perceived problem of not being native to this country?
To expect tolerance within our own population but condemn these animals on the basis of their background is extremely hypocritical and only one step removed from racism.”
by Kim, Teignmouth
Thursday, June 11 2009, 6:34PM
“BN, Cullompton - good point very well made! Hehe..”
by Kim, Teignmouth
Thursday, June 11 2009, 6:33PM
“Umm, survival of the fittest?? Red squirrels are prettier, but other than that, is there a particular reason that Reds should be held in higher regard than the Greys? I think squirrels are lovely - but then I also thought that about seagulls until we had one who kept inviting itself into our kitchen to steal food whenever the back door was left open!!”
by BN, Cullompton
Thursday, June 11 2009, 3:57PM
“"country sports fan"
Funny how this always translates as "someone who likes to kill animals"”
by Jimmy, exeter
Thursday, June 11 2009, 3:56PM
“Flying squirrels?!?!?, I may never leave the house again!”
by Grant Night, Exeter
Thursday, June 11 2009, 11:34AM
“does anyone remember the flying Squirrell that was a good book wasnt it?”
by Chris, Exeter
Thursday, June 11 2009, 10:54AM
“Is This News? grey squirrels have been a nuisance for many years and dispatchedf when possible in rural life.”
by Edward Barrett, Exeter
Thursday, June 11 2009, 9:43AM
“They be good in a stew they is...”