Example Letter to Organisers of a Grey Squirrel Cull

The first person you should contact is the organiser. You can email, write or speak to them on the phone or face to face.

Below is an example of a letter you can send to a person or organisation planning to cull squirrels in your area. If you can, please personalise the words, as this helps your letter have more impact, especially if other residents are also contacting them.

Dear [Name]  

I was shocked to see that [who] are planning to cull grey squirrels at [location]. As a local resident I am asking you to reconsider. I, like many people, enjoy seeing squirrels and other wildlife in our local area. To persecute and kill these beautiful animals is likely to be extremely unpopular with people.  

Squirrels can strip tree bark and are often blamed for tree damage, but this will not kill the vast majority of trees. In fact, squirrels play a part in tree planting by burying acorns in the ground. There is also little evidence to suggest that culling grey squirrels is the best way to conserve red squirrels.  

Methods used to cull squirrels, such as trapping, shooting or bludgeoning them to death inside a sack, are cruel and can cause terrible suffering. Poisons typically cause animals to die from internal bleeding, which can take several days. During this time the animals will remain conscious and experience symptoms such as pain, thirst, dizziness and fear.  

As well as being cruel, killing squirrels does not work, so it is a waste of resources. If there is a good source of food in an area and the environment remains attractive, more squirrels will quickly move into the area to replace those who have been killed.   

If squirrels are causing damage in gardens or homes or other buildings, there are many cost-effective humane alternatives to culling. For squirrels, these include blocking access to roof spaces and buildings and using sonic repellents. These, and other methods, are explained in the following resources:  

  1. Animal Aid’s ‘Alternatives to Culling’ booklet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alternativestoculling2022-4.pdf  
  2. Animal Aid’s Squirrel Advice sheet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Grey-Squirrel-advice-sheet.pdf 

You may also want to get in touch with Humane Wildlife Solutions to help you find an ethical solution. Their telephone number is 07771 361226.  

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response. 

Yours sincerely,  

  

[Name]  

Local resident  

Add your phone number if you are happy to discuss this on the phone. 

 

Tips 

  • If your local council is carrying out the cull you may want to say how you object to your council tax money being wasted on such a cruel and pointless exercise.  
  • Include details of other actions you have taken or are planning to take, such as starting a petition or writing to your local councillors.  
  • If you haven’t received a response in two weeks, we suggest contacting them again, to check they have received your letter. Â