An abundance of red squirrels in Angus

Sir, - In response to the letter from a Blairgowrie reader regarding the absence of red squirrels, I can comment as follows.

We have been in the our house now for 17 years and have an abundance of red squirrels who frequent our bird feeders and gorge themselves.

We have as many as five red squirrels at a time all trying to be nut master and chasing off any young upstart that might be trying to usurp their territory.

These delightful creatures can be viewed through windows only a foot away from their munching without being disturbed. Maybe glass reflection gives us anonymity.

This activity appears to continue throughout the year with feeders being regularly replenished every other day until the Angus Ball.

This happy event takes place every year in the third week of September, at the same time as the start of the rut.

We have a deer farm across the South Esk about 200 yards from our house.

The noise of the rut lasts well over a month and coincides with an absence of red squirrels from our bird tables. Now I cannot say that the Angus Ball causes the rut which absents the red squirrels but I can say that these events occur every year at the same time. Needless to say, the squirrels do return in November when the rut expires for the year with exhausted deer and long term plans are afoot for the next Angus Ball.

Rabbits and raptors continue as before.

This may well not explain the absence of red squirrels in Blairgowrie but it does appear to be a local feature here in Angus. Iain Ellvers. Eskhill House, Forfar.