Subject: squirrels
Date: Sep 3 13:54:14 1997
From: "Clarice Clark and Jerry Broadus" - jbroadus at seanet.com


I need references, if any exist, on the predation of Eastern Grey
squirrels on birds, bird eggs, and other native fauna.
I am trapping these pests in a private garden, where they destroy the
bird feeders for sure, but I really don't have any ammunition about
what other destructive behaviors they are up to.
I am getting flak from the squirrel huggers, no offense if there be
some lurking on tweeters, that we should let nature take it's
course, and that if we didn't trap and remove them , the population
would balance out, and settle down to "just a few" and it wouldn't be so bad. Aside
from the fact that I can't afford to buy the black sunflower seed
that they gobble up, I am convinced that they are responsible for
preying on the very birds that I am trying to encourage.
AS for nature taking it's course, if my experience from my acre in
Puyallup can be extrapolated, 24 acres of woodlands with feeders can
support a LOT of squirrels. WE have trapped and removed 15 so far
this summer. (we have never seen a native squirrel there, but would
release them if we did catch one.)
so if anyone has books they can recommend -( I have tried the
encyclopedia Britannica and it is vague), that will tell me and
anyone else who will listen whether or not Eastern Grey Squirrels
have a deleterious effect on WESTERN BIRDS, I would appreciate it.
Clarice Clark
jbroadus at seanet.com
Puyallup, WA. 98371