Example Letter to your Local Councillors

Below is an example of a letter you can send to your local councillors to ask them to oppose a squirrel cull in their area.

A councillor’s role is to represent and advocate for those that live in their area and to provide a bridge between the community and the council. If the cull is being carried out by your local council, you can ask one or more of your local councillors to approach the council on your behalf. If the cull is on private property, for example, a shop, they may still get involved.

If you can, please personalise the words, as this helps your letter have more impact, especially if other residents are also contacting them.

Dear Councillor [Name] 

I am writing as a resident of [your area] as I have discovered that the council is planning to cull squirrels at [location]. 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 homes, other buildings or gardens, there are many cost-effective humane alternatives to culling. 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 

They also contain contact details for several companies that specialise in humane wildlife deterrence. 

As my local councillor I ask that you raise this issue within the council, to ask them to reconsider their decision to cull the squirrels and instead opt for non-lethal humane methods.  

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

Yours sincerely, 

 

[Name] 

[Address] 

Find contact details for your local councillors