From Graeme Ruxton
I accept that the decline in red squirrel populations is a cause for urgent concern (“Red or dead?”, 20 January), and that grey squirrels can have undesirable effects other than their alleged displacement of reds. However, those who propose to control grey squirrels by means of warfarin poisoning should be prepared to demonstrate to the public that no option causing less suffering is practical.
In particular, we should explore the possibility of encouraging a form of forestry planting that would allow the red squirrels to outcompete greys for access to food. The red squirrel is considerably lighter than the grey and this should allow it access to food on the ends of small branches which could not bear the weight of the heavier species.
