Cull of ‘aggressive’ grey squirrels at National Botanic Gardens in Dublin

The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin has carried out a cull of the grey squirrel population as they “can become aggressive with one another and to visitors”.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) confirmed to the Irish Independent that they have been carrying out works to reduce the number of squirrels at the National Botanic Gardens, but the traps have now been removed.

An OPW spokesperson said the decision “is certainly not something we take lightly”, but “the situation has arisen because people do not appreciate the consequences of what they see as an act of kindness through feeding”.

Grey squirrels are classified as an invasive species in this country. Over the past 100 years they have ousted the native red squirrel because they are larger and more aggressive, and out-compete them for food and nest sites.

They carry the squirrel pox virus that is deadly to the native species of Ireland. The last red squirrels died out in the National Botanic Gardens in the 1990s, following the arrival of the grey squirrels.

“The population of grey squirrels at the National Botanic Gardens is now bigger than can be naturally supported by the fruits and nuts growing here, as a consequence of regular feeding by members of the public, despite requests not to do so,” the spokesperson said.

“Many of our bird-nesting boxes have been gnawed into by the grey squirrels, and they are known to be predatory on a wide range of nesting birds.

“As well as damage to trees, and bulbs being dug up, grey squirrels consume large quantities of seeds and buds that may otherwise form important food resources for seed-eating birds over the winter.

“We appreciate that some people find the squirrels a pleasure to watch, but having an aggregation of many squirrels jostling to take advantage of the feeding that takes place is unnatural.

“The animals can become aggressive with one another and to visitors in these situations,” the spokesperson added.

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