ARE PEOPLE JUST BORN STUPID LIKE MY MIL, OR DO THEY LEARN IT OVER YEARS? IS IT A GIFT?

 

1. Squirrels. Tree rats. They’re what the .22LR was invented for.

   Posted by Drew458       09/03/2008  at  11:24 AM  



2. Does the UK have a lesser phone number or two? We have 411 for information, and many areas have a secondary number to report problems that are not life threatening. 888? Heck you could have a whole series of graduated severity contact numbers, starting with 000 which connects you to the phone company operator. 111 for traffic conditions and school closing due to weather, 222 to find a doctor or dentist or taxi, etc.

   Maybe a series of heavy fines would help get the message across? I followed your link and I think the guy with the tired feet should be hit up for about £1000. When he sobers up.

   Posted by Drew458       09/03/2008  at  11:34 AM  



3. Peiper the Red squirrels are making a comeback in Scotland and Northern England. Mainly in forest areas. There have been some successful culls of greys. I used to shoot ‘em at every opportunity. You neglected to mention the greys were imported from the US I note!

   Posted by LyndonB       09/03/2008  at  07:44 PM  



4. Lyndon, I think that the gray came over from Europe to the States.  And, at least on this side of the pond, the reds are >i>far</i> more aggressive than the grays--the reds will go into nests of the grays and castrate the young male gray squirrels.

   They both can be cured with a .22 LR, though a .410 single-shot shotgun works fine as well.

   Posted by BlueStateSaint       09/04/2008  at  04:30 AM  



5. Peiper “real rifles” are not impossible to get, you just have to have a valid reason to own one. If you have a friend who is a farmer with a reasonable amount of land he can sign a slip saying you have permission to hunt. You then go to the police and ask for a firearms certificate application. It costs £45 They send someone out to inspect the land and to interview you to make sure you aren’t a nutter. Then when they approve you and the land you can get a firearm. I had three in the UK. A .22 rimfire, a .17 centrefire and a .223 centrefire. Oh and you need a steel security cabinet bolted to the wall.

   Air guns are easy enough to obtain. There are four calibres but the most common are .177” and .22” probably the best option is a .22 My preference is for a pre-charged pneumatic as they are the most accurate, but also the most expensive. The drawback is you need a supply of high pressure air. Either from a divers bottle or from a hand pump but it takes a lot of work! The air reservoir is pumped up to around 2700psi!! Otherwise spring guns are ok but a bit more tricky to shoot as the recoil affects the accuracy. Best makes are the German Weihrauch or Webley. Best ammo Crosman.

   I have seen “red” squirrels in Iowa. However the Red squirrel in the UK is Sciurus vulgaris the American red is Tamiasciurus hudsonicus the grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis was introduced into Britain in the 1800’s and has become a major pest.

   Personally if you have a rabbit problem I would consider the firearm application as you could get a moderated (silenced) .22 rimfire and shoot sub sonic ammo. It is quieter than an angel’s fart and far more effective than an air rifle.

   Posted by LyndonB       09/04/2008  at  08:36 AM  

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