Grey squirrels are such a pest that gun clubs are being paid to hunt them. But should they be in the firing line? asks
BRIAN O'CONNELL
IT'S NOT often you get gun club members and environmental activists singing from the same hymn sheet. But when it comes to the grey squirrel, there aren't too many defenders of the native American rodent. The squirrels were introduced to Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century, when a group of creatures to be given as a gift to a woman at Castleforbes in Co Longford escaped. Ever since, they have been making life miserable for the native red squirrel and several species of Irish trees.
Now though, a concerted effort is under way to take on the squirrels, and Ireland's gun clubs are leading the fight back. An annual cull competition, which gun clubs say is supported by the Department of Agriculture, has seen over 2,000 grey squirrels killed in the past two years, with prize money of €1,600 going to the club with the most hits.
On the issue of whether or not the Department of Agriculture sponsors an annual squirrel shoot, a spokesperson from the Department says: "In relation to the National Association of Regional Game Councils, which represents more than 1,000 gun clubs with 26,000 members throughout the country, they have included grey squirrels in its annual cull of pest species. The Forest Service has provided funding for the last two years towards this project. This was part of the recommendations of the crisis report, which can be viewed on the Department's website."
That report states that "given that many individuals in possession of a firearm are members of gun clubs, it is of key importance that such clubs be brought on board with any national scheme to control the grey squirrel population".
Des Crofton, director of the National Association of Regional Game Councils, which represents some 900 gun clubs throughout Ireland, says his members are glad to be able to lend a hand in eradicating grey squirrels from the landscape.
"The grey squirrel is a pest species and has been aggressive in driving out the native red squirrel since being introduced to Ireland; 2008 was the first year of our competition, and there was great interest among shooting people towards these species. We never had a focused interest in squirrels up to that point," he says.
So, how does one go about shooting and killing a grey squirrel? "The most common way to shoot them is with a shotgun," says Crofton. "You can use a low calibre .22 rifle as well, but the preference is for a shotgun. With the rifle, it's just one single projectile, but with the shotgun you have a better chance of hitting them, as the shot spreads into pellets."
Crofton says most are shot within a 30-50m distance, and that the squirrels are harder to shoot if they are in trees. "You might see them in pairs, but often they are on their own," he says, "and there is no sound from them when they are shot. They are killed instantly, no matter where they are hit - with a shotgun the shot will get almost every part of the body."
Wildlife activist Éanna Ní Lamhna says that shooting grey squirrels in this way is both a humane and effective way of helping to eradicate the destructive species from Ireland. "The grey squirrels are a total and utter pest in this country, and shooting is more humane than using a trap.
"With traps you are liable to catch other species. Shooting them is the most humane way of killing them. Gun clubs have to take responsibility that they kill them, though, and don't leave injured animals, but I think for the most part they are responsible in this manner."
But is every squirrel caught as part of the annual squirrel shoot killed by a gun? It appears not. Andrew Dillon, whose own club won last year's cull competition, says more than half of the 214 squirrels his club caught were with traps. "A lot of them would be trapped and not shot at all," he says. "We'd use cages, and cage traps with springs that are small enough so it doesn't actually kill them at first. I would say that half are caught by traps and the rest by shooting. With traps, guys have to be out checking them every day. It wouldn't be something we'd put down and walk away from."
Many agree that whatever method is used, the grey squirrel's presence in Ireland is causing damage to both flora and fauna, and efforts to prevent their spread must now be accelerated. The red squirrel is in danger of disappearing in eastern parts of the country and, with news that the grey squirrel has crossed the Shannon, there are fears for western species also.
Yet Bernie Wright, press officer of the Alliance for Animal Rights (Afar), says it's not the grey squirrels' fault they have ended up in Ireland, and their mass culling is unjustified. "Man has created this problem and should ultimately take responsibility for introducing non-indigenous species. The grey squirrels should not have to pay with their lives," she says.
"If the thousands of euros in research funding used to poison, trap and shoot these innocent beings were used instead to possibly protect the trees, it might be a part solution."
As for the gun clubs' attempts to help eradicate the grey squirrel from Ireland and stand up for our native species, Wright is unconvinced. "Nor should they be the latest pot-shot targets for gun-toting, aspiring Rambos in gun clubs countrywide.