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Mmm, squirrel
[Anyone had squirrel meat from Budgens?](http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/squirrel-meat-supermarket)
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<blockquote>
Actress and Viva patron Jenny Seagrove also spoke out against the sales, saying: "It is unbelievable that our wild grey squirrels are now being killed and packaged up for sale in such high-street stores.
</blockquote>
They're not our squirrels. Surely the red squirrel will make a comeback if the alien N American eastern grey squirrel is culled.
Wonder why folk are up in arms about putting the dead squirrels to good use and avoiding needless waste? People just like a good moan don't they.
Which for all I know could be delicious.
I'm right with you on the not eating pigeon thing Emma, I do know that the pigeon served in restaurants is allegedly tasty wild pigeon but in my mind it's disgusting feral pigeon from Trafalgar Square.
I wouldn't care to eat a London backyard squirrel as they have probably ingested all kinds of muck, but I spoke to the butcher at Budgens the other day and they source their squirrels from gamekeepers at nice country estates in East Anglia and the South Coast.....will be hosting a squirrel supper as soon as they get new supplies in. I have a very yummy recipe for squirrel pate somewhere and I understand they are lovely in a stew.
This is what I found on the web about Fenn traps:
* Only approved spring traps can be used, and these are designed to kill the target animal humanely. Currently approved traps include the Fenn Mk 4 and 6, the Springer Mk 4 and 6, the Magnum and the Kania 2000.
* These should be set in a natural or artificial tunnel. The latter can be constructed from timber or other suitable materials and the entrances of all tunnels should be restricted to reduce risks to non-target species. Children and pets can be particularly vulnerable and the use of such traps in domestic situations is not normally recommended.
* In roof spaces, gaps between joists or other suitable areas can be used, adding materials as necessary to create a tunnel.
* The tunnel helps to ensure that the squirrel is caught correctly. Care must be taken to ensure that the arms of the trap can operate freely. Bait such as whole yellow maize, peanuts, wheat or a mixture of these can be used to attract the animals to enter the tunnel.
* Spring traps should be inspected at least once a day, and carcasses removed and disposed of discretely, either by burning, burying or via refuse collections when they should be securely wrapped.
There are hardly any of the little b*****ds around at the moment in my part of the SG forest - I've only seen one in my back garden all year - I wonder why? Someone must be trapping them - not me - but evidently not Budgens.