Comments - 23/02/14

Kayleigh Rimmer: http://bsue45.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/grey-squirrel-mayhem/

Comment:
"A good blog that succinctly summarises the details of Dr. Shuttleworth's talk, with good factual reporting. You haven't discussed the culling on Anglesey at all, what was your opinion of this? Were you surprised with the rapidity of the population recovery of the Reds after the Greys were controlled?
I was highly interested to know the facts and empirical evidence behind the controlling of Greys having a real impact on Reds recovery. It's interesting to know that these techniques do work and could possibly be extended to the wider country. Do you think it'll ever be possible to wipe out Greys? Or that it's worth the expense of doing so? It could be that controlling the density and overall population size of the Greys is the answer, rather than totally exterminating them. This might help limit the amount of pox carriers and stop the disease spreading further into the Red population... like that demonstrated on Anglesey.
Also, have you explored the Red Squirrel Survival Trust website? Although poorly put together, it does provide lots more information and relevant links to other Grey squirrel control programmes. Do you think it's likely you might ever have to do this in your future career? As a reserve warden I might have to do it as part of the day to day management, how would you feel if you were forced to do it, even in a humane manner?"

Also a follow up reply to her reply.

Nicola Amer: http://bsu0af.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/dragons-den-workshop-monday-17th-february/

Comment:
"It's nice to see the things you learnt from the Dragon's Den. I agree with you about the second session. Given the amount of times they've said we will have to use business plans in any line of work, it would be nice to be given some of these kinds of tasks. The Dragon's Den was still all about setting up/developing a business. I guess we might have to do this as part of a company in future, but what other things might be involved? It would also have been helpful to be given more instruction on each section, don't you think? We made up pretty much all our finance figures, but it might have been helpful to be told better ways to come up with projected profits, income, outgoings and other relevant financial calculations.
Also maybe a bit more instruction on the kinds of rules and regulations we might come across whilst applying for funding, or setting up environmental businesses. Things like public liability insurance, tax and health and safety standards were only briefly mentioned in the session, but it would be good to know more about these things.
Well done for stating how you think the session could have been improved, I've barely seen this on other blogs. "

James Haden: http://jameshaden.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/seminar-lets-all-save-the-lesser-of-two-evils/

Comment:
"A very interesting blog with a view point I haven't heard before. I think you're right on some points. The financial burden of culling the Greys will be excessive, if the job is to be done properly. However, the Reds, although a potential pest, are always found in much lower densities than grey squirrels. Also, do you have any empirical evidence that Reds are a pest? I don't say this to contradict you, I'm genuinely interested in reading about the other side of the debate, since it is so rarely reported.
I do think we have a duty to at least maintain some of our native reds though. They are genetically distinct from the mainland European animals, and the only reason their population has been decimated so totally is due to our intervention in the first place. Although it's totally infeasible to wipe out grey squirrels, it may be worth endeavouring to continue excluding them from Scotland at the very least, just to protect some of the native reds.
Also, as a biologist I can't help wondering why humans deem themselves more important than any other species. Why is the fact that either of the species invade our homes such a problem? If we build houses and reduce the amount of habitat available, is it any wonder they move into our houses, and then chew the things they find in there. If anything we should applaud their resourcefulness which displays a curiosity and flexibility of mind that may even rival our own.
All in all I can see your point and would be interested to hear more about. Can you point me in the direction of any relevant literature, or answer my questions/tell me more about your opinion?"

Plus an in depth follow up debate.

James Stops: http://jstops.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/cv-covering-letter/

Comment:
"A very nice blog and round up of how you found the exercise useful. Has it inspired you to keep an eye on job websites? I actually submitted my CV and covering letter to the employer and have been extremely lucky to be accepted for the position. Although it starts in April, the employer has recognised that I will need to complete my degree and has made allowances for this. I pointed this fact out in my covering letter, and they were still willing to hire me. Therefore it may well be worth you applying for jobs you find interesting; if the employer wants you enough, they may even hold the start date back. The Welsh Water woman at the careers cafe said that they put the start date of her job back because they wanted her for the job.
I thought this exercise was the most useful of the module, but also wished they would talk us through some of the other application methods. So many job seem to have their own application forms these days, and there seems to be quite an art to transferring your own CV into these...have you tried any of these application types? And how have you found them if so?
Good luck with the rest of your degree and hope you get some of those good applications in before you graduate."

21/02/14 - Landscape scale grey squirrel control: Lessons from the UK.

The seminar this week was presented by Dr. Craig Shuttleworth of The Red Squirrel Survival Trust. This man was not your typical Dr. or presenter. No neat hair cut, suit, nicely buffed shoes. He was wearing muddy wellies, the mud extending up the thighs of his tracksuit trousers, a maroon woolly jumper (Ron Weasley style) and karki flannel jacket. He had plainly been out in the field in the morning doing survey work, and gained my instant respect for this. He can be seen in this video, that also summarises the problems that Grey squirrels cause.

He also gave a masterclass in presenting, with lots of anecdotes, pictures and Google search results that engaged the audience and had us all laughing copiously. 

Google is full of hilarious squirrel pictures
http://jailhouselawyersblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/old-grey-squirrel-test.html

After this hilarious introduction, he got down to presenting the science behind his research. He introduced the problem of Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) with regards to limiting the range of Reds (Sciurus vulgaris), and how 69% of the adult human UK population wants Greys culled to allow the Reds to return. He also showed us the historic and current distribution of Greys and Reds: 

Distribution maps showing the advance of Grey squirrels 

and decline of Red squirrels over the last 65 years. 

http://www.cornwallredsquirrels.co.uk/page3.htm

He discussed the problems that Greys cause to Reds. Not only do they carry the squirrel pox virus, which can kill a Red in 3 weeks, but they also competitively exclude juvenile Reds, which greatly minimises annual recruitment levels, causing an ageing population of Reds that eventually dies out. The Greys can also live at much higher densities than Reds, with ~10 individuals per hectare to the 1.5 of Reds. This means that invasive Greys can outnumber Reds 10:1 in a habitat, and this kind of resource competition is bound to negatively effect Reds in any situation.

Greys reduce song bird populations by <15%
http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.co.uk/2010/
04/attack-of-flesh-eating-vegetarians.html

Dr. Shuttleworth presented the case study of the Grey squirrel eradication on Anglesey, and told us how successful it had been. This was the first study of its kind, which gave empirical data that excluding Greys did actually allow Red populations to recover and expand back into their original habitats. 

Red = Breeding site and pop. increase.
Green = Expanded range.
Star = Confirmed sighting.
http://www.redsquirrels.info/map-holder/distribution-maps/

He discussed the difficulties of such a wide scale eradication, including funding, access and the breeding of individuals for reintroduction proliferating adenovirus. He also discussed the unexpected positive side effects, including the loss of squirrel pox carrier prevalence on the island, the increase in song birds nesting and the increased public engagement within the Survival Trust due to the measurable population increase of the Reds.

He then went on to discuss the applicability of the positive results of this eradication to the rest of Britain. Although Anglesey is an island, and therefore much easy to control than the mainland country as a whole, the study did prove that reducing the population of Greys does have an immediate, positive, impact on the Reds population, and allows them to expand and recolonise habitats. If a nationwide Grey eradication were successful, it is likely that the Reds would recolonise most of Britain.

Although this goal is unlikely, there are far more efforts being made to protect the surviving Red populations across Britain, and volunteer cullers are coming forward in droves to help aid these projects. It was very interesting to learn the real science behind this problem and, as an ornithologist, interesting to hear about the negative effects Greys have on birds. I intend to follow a career in Reserve wardening, so I am sure the problems of controlling grey squirrels may be a part of my job description in future; it's good to know that there is actual science to justify the culling of this species. Hopefully the control methods will allow the gorgeous Red squirrel to continue to be a part of our native fauna.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317872/Im-just-nuts-Baby-squirrels-share-kiss-shelter-tree.html