JB
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Can red and grey squirrels coexist?Can red and grey squirrels coexist?
Because one of my neighbours claims to have seen reds around our place. Now I've seen plenty of greys and we're well out of the area where reds are supposed to exist but on the other hand he's a reasonably competent country type of boy so he's not likely to mistake a grey for anything else.
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Bernie66
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Allegedly not. The greys carry disease which kills reds and the reds, being cute and small, wont share territory with them.
Apparently there are black, super- greys, which are pushing the greys around now.
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Treacodactyl
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Are they real reds? Despite their name some greys can look orangey red so worth checking other features.
If they are sure they are reds then it would be worth speaking to people trying to save the reds as it could suggest resistance to the squirrel pox virus and could be a useful find.
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JB
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| Treacodactyl wrote: | | Are they real reds? |
I suspect not but the first reality check is whether they could coexist.
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Bernie66
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Reds are half the size of greys, and much more shy.
The difference is very clear once seen close to.
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Silas
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And they are not as cute - the tails are not very 'bushy' like the greys and they are much more timid.
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Mutton
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I heard somewhere that greys can end up with effectively a "henna wash" from eating conkers as they roll them up their fronts to eat them and colour comes off.
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Bernie66
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| Silas wrote: | | And they are not as cute. |
That's debatable, I grew up with reds and much prefer them.
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Silas
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| Bernie66 wrote: | | Silas wrote: | | And they are not as cute. |
That's debatable, I grew up with reds and much prefer them. |
And they are certainly not as tasty!
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Bernie66
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Tell me you wouldnt eat a red?
Come on man!
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Jamanda
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Aren't they protected?
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Bernie66
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| Jamanda wrote: | | Aren't they protected? |
They are now but 60 years ago they werent, he might have poached them then to feed his kids. 
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Silas
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| Bernie66 wrote: | Tell me you wouldnt eat a red?
Come on man! |
Well, not a whole one, not by myself anyway.
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Bernie66
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 ..
I knew you were a heathen - proven if you ate the cute reds!
Now barbecued greys- nice!
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Jamanda
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| Silas wrote: | | Bernie66 wrote: | Tell me you wouldnt eat a red?
Come on man! |
Well, not a whole one, not by myself anyway. |
Wouldn't have thought there'd be much on one myself. Scrawny little things. (Definitely cute though)
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tiggy
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When we lived in Formby the red squirrels visited our garden to eat peanuts from the bird feeders.Only greys here in Worcester .I miss the reds.
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Bernie66
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That colony in Formby has just been decimated by the dreaded virus, not sure if it has been completely wiped out. Last time I checked there were 80 hospitalsed and none to be seen.
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gil
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They don't co-exist here. If the greys try moving in, folk are supposed to phone the 'save the red squirrel' hotline [or shoot the the greys]. Squirrelpox.
And the two types are not easily to mix up - reds are much smaller, and really red, and generally look more bristly / less furry
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tiggy
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Bernie thats dreadfull news,I darent tell my hubby or his daughter.the Formby squirrels were a much needed source of cheer during some dark days and we all loved them
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Bernie66
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squirrel pox sadly. Google the reserve- 
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shaunb
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Greys and Reds CANNOT co exist.
Greys are greys and Reds are Reds, they are quite different and although greys can appear orangey, they are still grey and of American origin, Our Reds are smaller and have tufts of hair on top of their ears.
Has anyone heard of the new BLACK SQUIRELLS - if you thought greys were over fed, over sexed and over here, wait til you here what the Blacks are like - Nasty Buggers apparently.
Long live the poor meek British Red Squirell
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Shane
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I've seen the black squirrels in Alsace - nasty, you say?
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