Hello from the UK

[Elliot28ga]

Hi folks,

I've been the proud owner of a 28 gauge Remington 870 Express for several years, since I conned my dad into thinking it was a good idea for him to give it to me. I can't say I've seen another one like it over here, I doubt there are too many even in the more common 12ga & 20ga varieties.

I work as a "Red Squirrel Ranger", a job which essentially involves protecting our one native squirrel species, through eradicating another US import, the grey squirrel. Needless to say the Rem 870 gets plenty of use, especially at this time of year when trapping becomes less effective. So far I would say we're only just holding our own in the against the illegal aliens from the US. One day I'd love to be able to hunt them where they belong in the USA.

Elliot

[Romulus]

Howdy and welcome...I guess that even with that 28 gauge you end up with quite a few pounds of squirrel burger...here in the US we typically hunt squirrel with a rimfire rifle

[Scorpion8]

Welcome and howdy! So how did US grey squirrels get passports to go to the UK? Is there a large invasive population?

[Elliot28ga]

Howdy and welcome...I guess that even with that 28 gauge you end up with quite a few pounds of squirrel burger...here in the US we typically hunt squirrel with a rimfire rifle

I do hunt them with a .22lr from time to time but the trouble is the UK is too densely populated so it makes safe shots on squirrels with a rimfire a bit more difficult. Besides the 28ga or 410 I mostly used a .177 air rifle. Air rifles seem to be the weapon of choice for many here on squirrels.

[Elliot28ga]

Welcome and howdy! So how did US grey squirrels get passports to go to the UK? Is there a large invasive population?

I have no idea on the legality of their arrival but they first showed up here in the 1870's. A wealthy Lord or Duke or some other titled individual decided they'd be a nice addition to their land. Since then they've expanded across the UK numbering several million now. Meanwhile there's just a few hundred thousand of our native squirrel left. The trouble is the American variety is just better at being a squirrel than ours.