Grey squirrels are a tasty snack

Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, March 11, 2006

Re: "Squirrelly: Easter grey squirrels are here to stay on Vancouver Island," March 5.

Emily Gonzales is all wet in absolving grey squirrels in the decline of the native reds. I was resident warden and naturalist of Francis King Park for five years and watched the red squirrels disappear as the greys moved in. No trees were cut down in the 91-hectare park.

A similar situation happened on a 340-acre farm where I have kept my dairy goats for 20 years. Most of this farm is forested, yet when the greys came in, the reds vanished. Eventually, I got permission from the landowner to shoot the grey squirrels.

Wonder of wonders, there were suddenly walnuts left on the trees for humans to pick, and the shy red squirrels reappeared!

Of course, waves of new grey squirrels come in every year, so I have to keep on top of the situation. Fortunately, as the article correctly stated, grey squirrels are delicious. The meat is fine-grained and delicate in flavour, true gourmet fare.

I realize that it is politically correct nowadays to think that any and all problems involving animals are entirely the fault of humans, as in Gonzales's view that development is solely to blame for the plight of the red squirrel.

It happens that grey squirrels commonly kill red squirrels and their young; greys also kill and eat baby songbirds. Where they originally come from, native weasels keep their numbers in check. The greys have no natural predators here, except us.

Yes, many people think they're cute. I happen to think native red squirrels are cuter.

Willi Boepple,

Highlands.