Immoral cull

Published on Wednesday 15 April 2009 21:57

The current Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) cull of grey squirrels has attracted a lot of media attention, but one significant moral issue remains unanswered.

Cage traps indiscriminately catch squirrels of either sex and, as it is unlawful to release a grey squirrel once it has been caught, it must be killed. This means lactating females caught and killed between January and October will leave orphan kittens to face a cruel and lingering death from starvation.

In February this year, I wrote to the SWT, asking what measures they were taking to ensure baby grey squirrels were not subjected to a slow death when their mothers were trapped and killed. It didn't reply.

ANGUS MACMILLAN

Meikle Boturich

near Balloch, Dunbartonshire