this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2026
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Shower thought: If we hadn't introduced grey squirrels to this country we wouldn't have to faff about with squirrel proof bird feeders (feddit.uk)
submitted 1 day ago by Gentryfried@feddit.uk to c/casualuk@feddit.uk
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Because obviously red squirrels are still squirrels, but there's just far less of them. Don't think people would mind the occasional squirrel raid as long as they knew there was only going to be one of them for the entire neighbourhood. Alas.

Instead we dip into the UK's defense budget to engineer elaborste cages which leave karger birds hungry just to give a big middle finger to the grey bouncy buggers.

Bonus picture:

Don't know if/how this one got out again, it just came up when i searched for visual examples. Goes to show that we're never really safe. They can even get into our homes!

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[–] tal@lemmy.today 16 points 1 day ago (2 children)

but there’s just far less of them.

Isn't the reason that there are fewer of them because the gray squirrels showed up, were bigger and stronger and outcompeted them for territory? If the gray squirrel hadn't been introduced, and assuming that the limiting factor was food, then I'd think that there'd be about as many red squirrels as there are gray squirrels in our timeline.

[–] Gentryfried@feddit.uk 2 points 14 hours ago

Apparently red squirrels spread out more and are more competetive with one another, and also have a much more limited selection of foods. That's what i was thinking of. This is one of the reasons greys are considered so bad - they out a lot more strain on the environment compared to their red counterparts.

[–] Rothe@piefed.social 8 points 23 hours ago

Well, that is not the reason but more of a result of their differences. Euroasian red squirrels are mostly solitary creatures (outside of mating season) with large territories for each individual, while American grey squirrels have no problems with communal living and doesn't have territories in the same way, so they tend to naturally have higher concentrated populations.

Red squirrels are also usually quite shy and timid and take a long time to adapt to nearby humans compared to the grey squirrels, which are almost domesticated in the way they are able to co-exist with humans.

[–] CubitOom@infosec.pub 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Add some hot pepper to the feed. Birds can't taste it and the squirrels won't ever try again.

[–] DakRalter@thelemmy.club 1 points 3 hours ago

Doesn't always work, our squirrels had asbestos mouths.

[–] TimboSlice@discuss.online 3 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

When I was a kid we had a bird feeder in the back on a pole. The squirrels would climb the pole and eat the food. We greased it up and watched in glee as the squirrels would get a running start and jump onto the pole, only to spin and slide down. It was hilarious.

[–] DakRalter@thelemmy.club 1 points 3 hours ago

I did this too, it was great fun to watch!

[–] Gentryfried@feddit.uk 0 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] TimboSlice@discuss.online 1 points 9 hours ago

I thought that was gonna be the spinning squirrel, but it was the first recommended under that video..such a classic

[–] DakRalter@thelemmy.club 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Sometimes squirrels eat so much that they get too fat to get back out.

Fun fact: I don't know if it's still the case, but it used to be illegal to release a squirrel caught in a bird feeder, as it counts the same as releasing a captive squirrel into the wild. Not that it's enforced, but you are supposed to have it put down.

[–] Gentryfried@feddit.uk 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Man the law can be so dark

[–] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I mean if it is a grey one is that not moral? They are invasive after all

[–] HermitBee@feddit.uk 2 points 21 hours ago

So were the Normans, but that doesn't mean it's moral to shoot Frenchmen today.

[–] Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 23 hours ago

Lawful is not moral.