Devon Wildlife Hospital.

J

Johnny Morris.

Well-Known Member
Visited this establishment the other day, although it isn't a zoo it does have permanent residents. It used to be and still is a Hedgehog Hospital. They have Scottish Wildcats and Red Squirrels. A really good Stoat enclosure, with two Stoats which i think are to be returned to the wild, Foxes, Badger (Which i didn't see.) Herring Gulls, Wood Mice, Harvest Mice, The usual petting zoo suspects. Mink and Grey Squirrels which can't be released the latter of which, to my surprise made for an excellent exhibit. I was watching them for quite a while, and returned to watch them being fed. Last but by no means least was the meet the Hedgehog, where you got to hold and smooth a Hedgehog (I know surprised me too.) Anyway, it looks like this place has plans to develop breeding programmes for Scottish wildcats and Red Squirrel. I look forward to visiting this place again.
 
I am surprised to see that they keep grey squirrels, I hope they don’t breed them at all!. In my opinion grey squirrels in the UK should be killed at every opportunity.
 
Pootle said:
I am surprised to see that they keep grey squirrels, I hope they don’t breed them at all!. In my opinion grey squirrels in the UK should be killed at every opportunity.
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They aren't allowed to release them, though seeing as they have now colonised most of the country, it's a bit like locking the stable door after the Horse has bolted. And why would they want to breed them?
 
Johnny Morris. said:
And why would they want to breed them?
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I didn't say they would want to breed them, I said 'I hope they don't breed them'.

In certain areas it is currently like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted as you say, but in other areas where fragmented populations of reds live (within 5 miles of my house luckily enough), it is essential to try to prevent them spreading in these areas. I have seen red squirrels dying of squirrel pox and it is a sad sight. At Formby Squirrel Reserve in Merseyside the last time I visited I walked about 5 or 6 miles in the pine woodlands, I stayed for several hours and only saw one red squirrel, and apparently numbers of sightings have increased in the last 2 to 3 years. Ten plus years ago I would have seen many more in that time over that distance their. So every effort is still needed to cull greys were necessary.
 
Devon Wildlife Hospital

Like any naturalised 'exotic' [except apparently Rabbits, which seem to be exempt by virtue of long residence], it's illegal to rehabilitate & release Grey Squirrels. But this does not mean that they can't make very satisfactory captive subjects. They are interesting and attractive animals in their own right.
 
FBBird said:
Like any naturalised 'exotic' [except apparently Rabbits, which seem to be exempt by virtue of long residence], it's illegal to rehabilitate & release Grey Squirrels. But this does not mean that they can't make very satisfactory captive subjects. They are interesting and attractive animals in their own right.
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I agree. I also found myself thinking of building an Large Aviary/enclosure and seeing if i could get some rescued orphan Greys, but i often let my imagination get carried away.
 
Devon Wildlife Hospital

I think you need a licence to keep Grey Squirrels, which may not be easy to get.
 
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