I was pleasantly surprised by the sentiment of this programme in Britian -- making popular the eating of an invasive species to help preserve a native one. Yank grey squirrels are reaping havoc with the cute native red squirrels on the Isle, and the brits are doing something about it. Eating them.
I've talked about this regarding Nutria on this blog in the past (the state of Louisiana had the idea first). And, I think Starlings would make a great source of wild bird cat food, and intend to try it out.
It just makes sense, if an animal becomes popular to eat, or for fur, or medicine it tends to disappear pretty quickly. Why not use that to our advantage, instead of always to our disadvantage. It's a perfect win/win to develop markets and tastes for products derived from invasive species of all sorts.
I think there needs to be hunting of grey squirrels on Vancouver island too, and quickly. Apparently there is much the same situation going on up there but they aren't even allowed to hunt them in any regulated manner -- which makes no sense to me.
Here's to tasty invasive game vittles,
Bp
4 comments:
Not only are they not hunted, people would bring injured ones into the emergency clinic all the time and ask us to "save" them. The little buggers are vicious and there was nothing quite like a supposedly "paralyzed" grey squirrel getting loose in the treatment room and attacking everyone's ankles.
Once we'd stabilized them (is it fixable? no - kill it. yes - put it in a box) we'd ship them off to wild ARC, the wild animal rehab centre. I heard weird rumours about them neutering squirrels before being released, but I never did find out exactly what their protocol was. Part of me kinda hopes they *were* sterilizing them, but only because I find the idea hilarious.
Willing and interested parties, pay attention to that last phrase, "but they aren't even allowed to hunt them *in any regulated manner*". I'm all for hunting regulations which protect species' populations, but legislated inaction against invasives?
Remember wrist rockets?
poach (1)
"steal game," 1528, "to push, poke," from M.Fr. pocher "to thrust, poke," from O.Fr. pochier "poke out, gouge," from a Gmc. source (cf. M.H.G. puchen "to pound, beat, knock") related to poke (v.). Sense of "trespass for the sake of stealing" is first attested 1611, perhaps via notion of "thrusting" oneself onto another's property.
Thrust away.
I feel some Clampet living coming on...
Squirrel pie, squirrel gumbo, squirrel saute, baked squirrel...
OH BABY! Note to the Tenant, get ready...your papa is on hellofa smart and WEIRD dude.
Dude!
I would also really like to see The good Reverend hunt a regulation. *scamper*
Squirrel is tasty, but there really isn't much on the little beggers for the amount of work to required to get it. The fox squirrel has nearly enough to make the effort worthwhile and they're a heck of a lot bigger than greys. BTW, if they're feeding on coniferous there'll be a distinct turpentine aspect.
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