Ranger called a racist for culling grey squirrels

CONSERVATIONISTS who cull grey squirrels to protect reds have revealed that they are often accused of being ‘racist’ and ‘xenophobic’.

Andrew Hodgkinson, a member of the charity Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group, in Cumbria, said: ‘We get called racist because we shoot the greys because they’re grey, not red.

‘So it’s like we’re shooting them because of the colour of their fur, which it really isn’t. It’s crazy. [We also get called] xenophobic, be– cause we are promoting a native species , so it’s all about British stuff.

Mr Hodgkinson, a red squirrel ranger, added that he would love to no longer have to kill squirrels. He told the BBC: ‘I look forward to the day when I don’t have a job, when I don’t have to shoot any grey squirrels any more because they’re all gone and the reds are OK.’

Grey squirrels, pictured, are classed as vermin in the UK. They are considered a threat to reds due to their bigger size.

They also carry squirrelpox, which is deadly to reds.