Oral Contraceptives For The Grey Squirrel.

@Kandae11 (57233)

July 11, 2022 10:11am CST

In the UK it seems Grey squirrels are causing a few problems which can't be ignored. Apart from stripping the bark from trees and weakening them, the Grey squirrels also carry a disease called ' squirrel pox'. They are not affected by it, but it can kill the red squirrel which is already endangered. So in an effort to reduce the very large population of greys- - British scientists have come up with an oral contraceptive to help reduce the population of Grey squirrels. What do you think of that idea? What else could be done? I wonder if there would be unpleasant side effects for the squirrel. Image from Wikipedia. Here is a link to the full story. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/11/oral-contraceptives-could-help-reduce-grey-squirrel-numbers-research-finds

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13 responses

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

11 Jul 22

I fully agree with @PhredWreck wrote. We are causing a lot more damages to the trees, we are destroying entire forests, but we point the fingers to squirrels. I do not think that it is a good idea. Give them something to cure the squirrel pox.

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@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

12 Jul 22

@Kandae11 - Not to mention those destroyed by fires started by humans.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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12 Jul 22

@LadyDuck Those used for coal production

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

Yes, he made a valid point there. I can think about so many other ways trees are being destroyed.

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@MarieCoyle (59106)

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11 Jul 22

I think I have issues with things like this. The world has so many needs. Humans are starving, homeless, sick. And our governments are providing birth control for squirrels. Who would have ever thought we would be in such a mess?

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

There are so many new diseases that keep cropping up. So much research is needed. I believe time and money could be better spent.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

@MarieCoyle Seems like the only option is to sit back and roll with the punches.

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@MarieCoyle (59106)

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11 Jul 22

@Kandae11 Yes, in so many instances, it certainly could. I find myself shaking my head at times nearly every day and thinking, ''why??'' I know that solves nothing, but I have no solution for many of the ridiculous situations I see.

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@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

11 Jul 22

I think nature finds a way to keep things balanced, but somehow people take matters into their own hands and end up with further consequences. I don't know what exactly could be done, yet I don't know that this is the answer either

.

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@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

13 Jul 22

@Kandae11 Right - more "humane" I guess.

@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

They think it is better than other extreme methods like elimination.

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@Marilynda1225 (91013)

• United States

11 Jul 22

I'm not sure what to think about this but it seems a bit extreme to give contraceptives to squirrels

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

The plan is to give it to both male and female. They will be lured by the hazelnut in which the contraceptive will be placed. Seems to me they are going to a lot of trouble - maybe the problem is more serious than it sounds.

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@Marilynda1225 (91013)

• United States

11 Jul 22

@Kandae11 it might be more of a serious problem if they're willing to go to all that trouble.

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@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jul 22

They need to do this with our rabbits. They reach plague proportions from time to time and it's really difficult to keep them under control.

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@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jul 22

@Kandae11 Unless they can coat grain in some way with something to stop reproduction.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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12 Jul 22

Oh yes. I recall you posted about the rabbit population some time ago. Contraceptives seem to be a time consuming and expensive way to handle the situation l think.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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12 Jul 22

@JudyEv this contraceptive is placed in the hazelnut - which squirells really like.

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Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (18198)

• Raurkela, India

12 Jul 22

Reducing the grey squirrel through contraceptive will not help rather it would be better to invent an oral medication that would kill the bacteria of squirrel pox in the grey squirrel.

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Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (18198)

• Raurkela, India

13 Jul 22

@Kandae11 For that we can build a scantuary for them to not make the species extinction. Forestation can always be done.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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12 Jul 22

Sounds like a good idea, but there is still the other problem of damaging the trees.

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@m_audrey6788 (58468)

• Germany

11 Jul 22

I hope it will not harm them too.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

Well they won't be able to say how they are feeling.

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@m_audrey6788 (58468)

• Germany

11 Jul 22

@Kandae11 Yes. That`s true and that make me feel sad

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@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

11 Jul 22

Hey if it works, I know a few squirrels around here that could benefit! It is hard to look outside without seeing a squirrel somewhere. As long as they stay to themselves though, I don't have a problem with them.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

I don't see squirrels but l see mongoose - they are the ones that greatly reduced the snake population on most Caribbean islands.

@jstory07 (148701)

• Roseburg, Oregon

12 Jul 22

How do they give the oral contraceptive t to the squirrels. Do they chase them down and than catch them. Give it to them and than turn them lose. I better go read the link.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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12 Jul 22

Yes read it. They lure them with hazelnuts.

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@JESSY3236 (22199)

• United States

12 Jul 22

I saw the headline to that, but I didn't read the article. I think it's a terrible idea. There are side effects to birth control pills. And I don't think it would work on animals.

@Kandae11 (57233)

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12 Jul 22

They can't tell us how they are feeling, how it affects them.

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@thelme55 (79311)

• Germany

11 Jul 22

I think we, human being are causing more danger to the trees than the squirrels. I hope the red endangered squirrels are not killed by those contraceptives.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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11 Jul 22

It seems the red endangered squirrels can be killed by the squirrel pox which the grey ones carry. The carriers are not affected by it. And yes , humans do cause more danger to the trees.

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@misunderstood_zombie (8765)

• United States

12 Jul 22

I think it's a great idea. Are they an invasive species?

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@Kandae11 (57233)

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12 Jul 22

Well they are destroying trees. And they carry a disease called " squirrel pox".The disease does not harm them, but they can infect red squirrels and they can die. The red squirrels are already an endangered species

Nocturnal Writer

@Nakitakona (59987)

• Philippines

21 Jul 22

Well, that would be fine to control the population of grey squirrels

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