Re: being unkind to your dog?! Nope, never seen one - ever. If you look at this page, you can see the distribution of them in the UK: http://www.britishredsquirrel.org/ I never saw one while I lived in North Yorkshire (I lived in the area shaded red and grey around North Yorkshire in the 1940s - I mean I lived in the area on the map, not that I lived there in the 1940s!), and there are none (or incredibly rare, anyway) now to be found in the South. I tried very hard to see some when on holiday in the North, but didn't get lucky. I can honestly say I have never seen a red squirrel apart from on the telly (and books, of course). My garden in London is absolutely over run with grey squirrels and quite frankly, they are so numerous as to be a pest.
Re: being unkind to your dog?! Grey squirrels are feral (that is, an introduced pest, originally from North America) in the UK and apparently they take over the habitat of red squirrels. Apparently the grey ones are good barbecued or in a braise. If you ask Hugh F-W that is
Re: being unkind to your dog?! oh sorry julie i misunderstood i thought you meant had not seen red or grey squirrels , i only every seen one or two red, see loads and loads of grey, .....i have grey walking my back fence, they are a pain
Re: being unkind to your dog?! [quote author=lynnelogan link=topic=4711.msg58259#msg58259 date=1393794807] oh sorry julie i misunderstood i thought you meant had not seen red or grey squirrels , i only every seen one or two red, see loads and loads of grey, .....i have grey walking my back fence, they are a pain [/quote] No probs, I knew that. Yes, wall to wall greys here too!
Re: being unkind to your dog?! [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4711.msg58240#msg58240 date=1393793360] Apparently the grey ones are good barbecued or in a braise. If you ask Hugh F-W that is [/quote] Bear Grylls might agree.....think I would give that delicacy a miss though.
Re: being unkind to your dog?! [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4711.msg58268#msg58268 date=1393795447] I'd give Grey Squirrel Fricassee a go [/quote] Nope. Not in a million years. Well, the London grey squirrels look like rats. So no. London Squirrel, Pigeon, Fox - Ugg. The rabbits, ducks and swans look good though. But I don't think you are allowed to eat those. There are moles, hedgehogs, shrews, 8 different types of bat, voles, wood mice, stoat, weasels, ferrets, badgers, feral cats, toads, frogs, adders, grass snakes, common lizards, and an unconfirmed sighting of a mink, on Wimbledon Common - just in case you think Charlie and I don't do wildlife! And WOMBLES! I do realise Lisa and Rachael are laughing their heads off at my pathetic little list - no marsupials or bears!
Re: being unkind to your dog?! Wombles are fab! Very, very, mysteriously, a number of soft toy Wombles have arrived and are sitting, all innocent like, on the shelf above Charlie's pen....I wonder what they are for....do they have a purpose? We'd have to go to Richmond park for deer, and since Fenton, we haven't risked it yet...must though. Maybe that's the place to get out the long line! Shudder. Can just see Charlie doing Fenton#2....
Re: being unkind to your dog?! Oh dear Julie - I think it's illegal to kill and eat a swan - unless you are the Queen. On the other hand, I think wombles a fair game - I am sure Charlie will think so....... ;D
Re: being unkind to your dog?! Debsie, You did the right thing, now way should a dog be allowed to chase wildlife? Where would it end, as you know we live in Wales and there are a lot of sheep here. To have a dog out of control chasing sheep will only ends in tears? The farmers here will shoot on sight any dog chasing sheep. I have always taught our dogs not to chase, the one occasion when it did happen. I was taking one of the dogs out in the truck and about to put her in the back when a cat ran out from under the truck and across the road, to my horror the dog followed at great speed, lucky there was nothing on the road. Lesson learnt!!! I walk the dogs through fields of sheep, on lead of course. They do not even look at them now, they will even retrieve a pheasant through a field of sheep. Mind you they have their working heads on then.
Re: being unkind to your dog?! [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=4711.msg58284#msg58284 date=1393801571] unless you are the Queen. [/quote] Pah! It's not like she'll have counted them herself... ;D ;D ;D We walk passed swans on the common. Once, one had babies. Charlie ran a mile at the sight of a protective mother swan extending her wings and hissing in a very threatening way... ;D ;D ;D My money was on the swan!
Re: being unkind to your dog?! Totally agree that chasing animals is bad all around. Where I live (Australia) it is the same - a dog that chased sheep would be shot by the farmer without hesitation. I haven't eaten a swan but I have eaten a peacock. It tasted like chicken. Seriously! How many people would a Womble feed?
Re: being unkind to your dog?! [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4711.msg58294#msg58294 date=1393804624] How many people would a Womble feed? [/quote] According to Delia online...6.
Re: being unkind to your dog?! That's not bad. Don't think I could source one outside London though. Not a fresh one anyway.
Re: being unkind to your dog?! But really guys? Could you fricassee one of these? (for the benefit of those who haven't a CLUE what we are on about ;D )
Re: being unkind to your dog?! Debsie, You definitely did the right thing. I find that the no chasing rule needs regular reinforcing especially when conditions change. Yesterday we walked past a field full of bleating lambs; Bess was besides herself and had to be told in no uncertain terms to behave. We are in red squirrel country here, they do spend most of their time up in the trees so that is why it is hard to spot them. I see them quite regularly on our woodland walks but though Bess has caught their scent I don't think she has ever seen one - her nose and eyes are too close to the ground. Alice
Re: being unkind to your dog?! We regularly have red squirrels in our garden; they steal food from the bird table. Poppy hates them. I will have to see if I can get a photo and post it. They are soooooo sweet…
Re: being unkind to your dog?! [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4711.msg58294#msg58294 date=1393804624] How many people would a Womble feed? [/quote] Madame Cholet, as a chef, feeds many. Clare
