Penicuik pensioner's call to rid Scotland of grey squirrels
A Penicuik pensioner is so keen for Scotland to be rid of grey squirrels, he is prepared to face prosecution in his own private cull.
Fred Wood (83) has been inspired by the actions of his neighbour Hamish Jack, who featured in the Midlothian Advertiser recently claiming to have shot and drowned more than 200 of the creatures in recent years.
The Scottish SPCA issued a warning that trapping and killing squirrels inhumanely could lead to legal action.
But Mr Wood, a former Penicuik and District Community councillor told the Advertiser: "I would be perfectly happy to be prosecuted."
Now he wants to open a debate about the "American tree rat" which, he believes, once removed, would allow the return of the red squirrel, last seen locally in the 1960s.
A resident of Penicuik for 35 years, Mr Wood has purchased a purpose-built trap to catch squirrels in his garden.
Mr Wood, who is partially sighted, favours drowning – by submerging the trap in a water-filled wheelie bin – as the fastest way of killing the squirrels.
He said the issue was "debated in parliament by lily-livered people".
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