Before the introduction of the grey squirrel in the mid-late 1800s, red squirrel populations were already in decline due to habitat loss through increased agriculture. There is no evidence that greys caused the decline but it is possible that they prevented red populations returning to normal.

Jo, Cumbria,

The word "Bludgeon" makes my blood run cold. To club something to death. This is barbaric, cruel and totally uncivilised. This sets a precedent for members of the public to do so, possibly for so-called fun. They are the most highly intelligent, animated and beautiful animals.

Michele Waterman, North London, United Kingdom

You dont kill people that are not native to a country and who have taken over a country. It is totally racist to kill an animal because of its fur colour and because it was not born here. Many of us visit the parks just to see the GREY SQUIRRELS! How uncivilised can any mindless society be?

Michele Waterman, North London, United Kingdeom

I rescue wildlife and believe that greys should be released where there are no reds. Greys do NOT kill reds they are more hardy and are better survivers due to them being bigger than the reds.
If we neuter all releases would this not solve the problem of a population boom?

Lindsay, Burton, Staffordshire

over the past five years i have trapped 351 greys from my garden,my neybour has trapped over 200 from his garden,forget the damage they do to the garden,what about the birds eggs and chicks they kill and eat,i have seen them eating them,also they set a house on fire in this road by chewing wires

fred ben, west mids,

It is disgusting that in our "civilized" country anyone, including yobos out for some "fun", is by the law not only permitted but encouraged to kill a wild animal by bludgeoning it to death. I don't agree, but If there has to be control it should be humane & by professionals ONLY.

W. Fetch, London, UK

How many of the reds in this country are "native". When their numbers were declining due to hunting by HUMANS red squirrels from Scandinavia were introduced to bolster the numbers of those reds that were left.
How many reds out there have a Scandinavian ancestry.
And if you want to be picky about native species we humans shouldn't be here as our original home was in Africa.
This is just about blaming something else for our own short comings.

Morrigan, Cardiff,

Grey squirrels were happy in their North American habitat. We introduced them, they have become a pest, we should dispose of them. Give the vulnerable native Red squirrel have a chance to survive!

Dr Wendy Nicholson, Hexham, Northumberland

they have a right to live, we enjoy them, as with all animals after all man brought them here. dont blame them for every thing. they are the inocent victims in all of this, i dont have a problem with them,

bernice hamer, mid wales,

Squirrels are indeed very tasty! Fry them up like chicken and you have a finger licking meal. Since man introduced them it's up to man to get the problem under control. People of England learn to love squirrel! Another good source of meat and the native Red squirrel will be forever grateful!

Theda, Santa Rosa, CA USA

Wet-minded liberal advocates have got it so disasterously wrong yet gain - I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that these same people also feed wild birds which in turn provide nestling "fodder" for the grey's (ask any gamekeeper) .

DESPAIR.

Ps. They are, in fact, exceedingly good to eat!

Rod., Lyneham, Wilts, UK

I am not sure at all the main reason for the red squirrels ' extinction is the introduction of grey squirrels . In France , in the south west area , red squirrels are much less numerous than before and even rare and you can find them in wild places like Pyrenees . I believe the main reason is what men are using in agriculture or other activities and pollution has destroyed most of them . Why don't the Lords in the House of Lords say that some bad methods and bad products are much more offensive for the red squirrels environment which has to be very natural . Some years after the grey squirrels ' extermination , there will be some more problems if the environment is not friendly to them .
It 's a sad story . Don't beat Jack to save John .

francoise, london, uk

The mind boggles! How much more like Monty Python, or Mr.Bean, do this shower at Westminster have to get before we get rid of the whole flaming lot?

John Lee, EllesmerePort, Chshire, formerly Merseyside

I find it very sad that I haven't seen our native red squirrel since I was a child.
If it is the only way to protect our native red, I'm sorry but I'll be at the front of the queue to kill the grey.

introducing the grey in the first place was foolish, but what of the black & the white squirrel, will they need to be eradicated too?

suzyn, clacton on sea, uk

Although I have received only one report of a grey squirrel invading a red squirrel's drey near Blairgowrie in order to predate the newly-born kits, I do not discount this possibility as the greys are well known for their voracious invasion of birds' nests to eat the eggs and young. I believe that this possible explanation for the reduction of red squirrels in areas where the two species are known to co-habit (in addition to losses due to other predators and disease) is worthy of investigation.

Paddy Garthwaite, Chairman, Perth & Kinross Red Squirrel Group

JPK Garthwaite, Blairgowrie, Scotland

Back in the sixties there were plenty of red squirrels about - now thanks to the grey there are none. Exterminate the greys to allow our native red species to repopulate our gardens and woodland!

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

Humans are responsible for destruction of many species, in this case nature takes its course - be grateful that red squirrels are displaced by cute gret squirrels, rather than something really bad, like rats.

Grey squirrels have as much right to live as we are - don't kill them.

Alex, Birmingham, UK

As much as I hate animal cruelty, this is a very short sighted move, probably made by people who know very little about the true plight of the red squirrel. The cull of the greys is sadly the only way to give our native reds a chance of survival.

Jax, Cambridgeshire, UK