Red good, grey bad?

Whilst watching my grand-daughter derive such pleasure from feeding peanuts to the grey squirrels in Nicholas Everet Park I started to wonder whether as sentient beings we have lost the plot.  A quick scan through the information and disinformation relating to grey squirrels on the Internet  rather confirms my unease. Depending upon your point of view the grey squirrel is; "the red squirrel's nemesis", "destructor of forests", "vector of 'pox' infection", "enemy of the thrush and hawfinch",  "cuddly friend" or "tasty sandwich filling".








For a non-emotive assessment of the impact of the grey squirrel on the flora and fauna of the UK see:  
http://conservation-issues.co.uk/Articles%20Pages/Grey_Squirrel_Article_07-07.htm

In my opinion us monkeys have a pretty high opinion of ourselves and an alarmingly partisan attitude when assessing the impacts of other species upon the environment.  As our 'Victorian' ancestors introduced the grey squirrel to their parks and gardens for their own amusement, perhaps in the UK, we should take on the responsibility for the welfare of both the grey and red squirrel.  I doubt that eradication of the grey squirrel by itself would ensure the survival of our native red squirrel.  The replacement of coniferous forests by deciduous woods and other man-made environmental impacts will probably be sufficient to see 'Squirrel Nutkin' reduced to an exhibit in zoos or a resident of defended environmental reserves. If this is the case, how sad would it be if the grey squirrel was also absent from our parks and gardens because we decided to make it so?

I have similar concerns regarding the "Gas a badger and save a Dairy Farmer" advocacy.  Nihilistic arguments based and argued upon inconclusive science, economic desperation and a collective national love of furry creatures, do not form a sound basis for making ecological interventions, especially when this is short hand for killing members of other species.

Strangely, as a long time non-meat eater, I have no moral objections to killing animals for food. Seems logical to me that our survival as an individual or species is as relevant as the survival of any other animal or species. If its ok for the Lion to hunt for its supper its probably ok for us to enjoy a fillet steak.

I must say I thought the the 'Squirrel melt' conceptually a tad bizarre but I guess Elvis would have approved!

See:
http://boingboing.net/2008/09/11/how-to-make-a-squirr.html

"Uh-ha"