I know I m going to get my head bitten off but here goes anyway

I distrust people who kill for fun.

We all have our opinions on killing and eating of animals.

I don’t eat meat. But I accept that others choose to. I don’t hunt fish or shoot but I accept that others choose to. I don’t like my garden hedgehogs eating frogs and baby birds but accept that they do! Live and let live!

Squirrel is delicious, although not much meat on them- after all they eat mainly nuts and we tend to only eat animals that are herbivores (I know chickens will eat slugs and worms and pigs will eat almost anything). Not much meat on a squirrel though. Taste not unlike rabbit.

That's cos he heard the casserole dish lid being rattled!

Sammy's gone into hiding.

Maybe we can persuade top restaurants to serve squirrel pie.

That's not an unreasonable suggestion at all. My ex buys squirrel meat from a farm shop in Bakewell. He says it's very nice in a casserole. He's not exactly known for his epicurean taste but there must be a market for it.

I was in a local park where the grey squirrels are proving a complete menace. They destroy vegetation and take eggs from bird's nests and the people visiting feed them which also attracts rats. The people who supervise are at a loss as to what they can do with them. Let's set up shoots and charge a fortune for them. Maybe we can persuade top restaurants to serve squirrel pie.

Poor grey squirrels. They have a right to live too.
We could round them up and ship them back to America.
(But not Sammy, he stays here.)

I often do something similar with slugs & snails Curlywhirly. Haven't eaten veal since I learned what it was, or any meat for 30 years. But I am a hypocrite too as I can't do without eggs and cheese and convince myself that bad farming practices in poorer countries make alternatives to meat just as bad.
Why do we hate some animals and adore others?
We call them pests and vermin or invasive species whereas we should look at them as all creatures great and small.

Grammaretto I used to be able to use slug pellets to kill unwanted slugs and snails, but can't bring myself to do it any more ? So now I go into the back garden at night time with a torch and collect any I can find (which can be anything up to 10 a night!) and set them free in the front garden, where there are no flowers just shrubs. Silly, I know, but the older I get, the more sentimental and sensitive I get, the only thing I can kill now are flies! How anyone can kill an animal for pleasure is beyond me, and yes, I am a hypocrite, as I do eat a small amount of meat, however, I won't eat game, duck and definitely not veal.

If it’s just being out in the countryside with dogs that’s pleasant and not the killing, there there are plenty of long walks to go on.

Poor grey squirrels. They have a right to live too.

Those cute little grey squirrels can be deadly to red squirrels.

Squirrel pox is a highly infectious disease that is fatal to red squirrels. Grey squirrels are carriers of the disease but do not suffer any symptoms. It only takes 1 grey squirrel to introduce the disease into a red squirrel population after which it can spread rapidly.

There has been several confirmed cases of squirrel pox at Formby recently (autumn 2019). Squirrel pox is carried by grey squirrels but they do not normally suffer from any symptoms. However, it is often fatal to red squirrels which will develop lesions around the eyes, mouth and on the paws.

So yes, grey squirrels do need to be managed.

Yes Callistemon we all love tufty but again there has been a cull of the greys in order to encourage the reds.
I am not sure where I stand on this. Is it the slippery slope to animal cruelty or is it good land management?.
At least they aren't poisoned.
What do others do with unwanted mice, snails or slugs? I kill them but I don't take a selfie.

Has William said grouse shooting was a good laugh ?

I think it is, although we have a resident one in our garden and he/she does look so sweet when nibbling on the hazelnuts.
Yes, I know they are classed as vermin and are a nuisance but this one has a name!

It would be wonderful to see the native red squirrel increase in number and area.

Another little known fact is that after the public have gone home, many open- to- the-public estates including botanic gardens, "cull" the grey squirrels because of the damage they do to the trees.
A necessary evil?

I also know it wasn't someones idea of a good laugh to kill it

I've never met anyone who thought shooting game was 'a good laugh'. Most take it very seriously. The enjoyment comes from being out in the countryside, pitting their skills against birds who have a good chance of getting away and working their dogs who are keen to show off their skills.

Bringing home a share of the bag is part of an enjoyable day out. Surplus birds go to game dealers, restaurants etc.

There might be some friendly rivalry as there is in any sport but no gloating.

DH hasn't been game fishing for years. He's likely to do himself a serious mischief trying to cast a fly with no peripheral vision.

He hates carp fishing with a passion. The fish are overstocked and artificially fed attracting people who are generally unsporting trophy hunters.

Coarse fishing is his hobby these days and the rules are you put them all back.

I dont eat fowl ,any fowl...nor pork and very little red meat .I was vegetarian but was advised to eat a little meat because of a health issue .I dont have a problem with meat eaters,any meat that comes into my home is local ,so I know who reared it and how it was reared .I also know it wasn't someones idea of a good laugh to kill it

My OH fishes but puts them back The local river 100 yards from my door has Salmon ,it costs a lot of money for a permit so its not a poor mans sport /pastime

Ah, thank you.
I'd better cross fishing off my non existent bucket list, then.

MissA A scientific panel commissioned by the EU stated that after examining research “the balance of evidence indicates that some fish species have the capacity to experience pain” and that “responses of fish of some species and under certain situations suggest they are able to experience fear”.

Yes they do, trisher if it's coarse fishing. Salmon and trout are game so they can be taken home to eat.

Callistemon Don't most anglers set their catch free? I know Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer do!!!