SQUIRRELS THRIVE. STOP HELPING THEM.

Frankly, It's About Time Someone Addressed the Squirrel Situation

Let's be clear: squirrels are a nuisance. A fluffy-tailed, nut-burying, garden-devastating nuisance. However, even I can acknowledge a problem exists beyond my personal annoyance with their acrobatic raids on bird feeders. Apparently, a few scattered groups are attempting to "save" them. Save them from what, exactly? A life of blissful chaos and readily available snacks?

The internet, naturally, is awash with these efforts. "Save the Squirrels" – a Facebook page with a paltry 2,591 likes, indicating a distinct lack of public concern – appears to be a ragtag team dedicated to patching up whatever scrapes these rodents manage to acquire. They rescue chipmunks and bunnies too, as if broadening the scope of their self-imposed martyrdom somehow justifies the endeavor. Honestly, I question their methods. Are they simply creating a dependency on human intervention?

Then there’s “Save Our Squirrels,” a group singularly focused on red squirrels in England. Red squirrels. As if one species of bushy-tailed pest deserves preferential treatment. They claim to be improving habitats and collaborating with landowners. Translation: coddling squirrels and inconveniencing people who own property. Their narrow focus feels… suspect. Are they ignoring the gray squirrels, the real troublemakers?

And let's not forget the YouTube playlist. A playlist. Because apparently, lectures on trapping and relocation are now considered conservation. It's a pathetic attempt to legitimize meddling with wildlife. They present it as “addressing issues,” but I see it as enabling a relentless surge in the squirrel population.

The common thread amongst these groups – wildlife rehabilitation, habitat improvement, public education, and responsible waste disposal – all boils down to one thing: perpetuating the squirrel problem. Yes, responsible waste disposal is good for all wildlife. It doesn’t, however, justify actively saving squirrels.

Let’s be realistic. Squirrels will survive. They're remarkably adept at doing so, despite our best (or worst) attempts to control them. These initiatives aren’t saving a species on the brink of extinction; they’re delaying the inevitable resurgence of a furry, frantic force of nature.

Frankly, I suspect the driving force behind all of this is an excess of sentimentality. A misguided belief that every creature, no matter how irritating, deserves our unwavering protection. I say, let nature take its course. And maybe, just maybe, I can enjoy a bird feeder without a constant aerial assault.