Immoral cull
The current Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) cull of grey squirrels has attracted a lot of media attention, but one significant moral issue remains unanswered.
Cage traps indiscriminately catch squirrels of either sex and, as it is unlawful to release a grey squirrel once it has been caught, it must be killed. This means lactating females caught and killed between January and October will leave orphan kittens to face a cruel and lingering death from starvation.
In February this year, I wrote to the SWT, asking what measures they were taking to ensure baby grey squirrels were not subjected to a slow death when their mothers were trapped and killed. It didn't reply.
ANGUS MACMILLAN
Meikle Boturich
near Balloch, Dunbartonshire