Grey Squirrels Stealing Millions Of Pounds Of Bird Seed A Year

"New video analysis reveals the furry thieves are looting up to half the seed put out in feeders, leaving gardeners and birds short-changed"

"Daylight robbery worth millions of pounds is taking place in gardens across the country with grey squirrels raiding bird feeders on a huge scale, new research has revealed.

The crimes were caught on video camera by scientists, who said grey squirrels are also known to raid birds’ nests for eggs and chicks. So people putting out food for birds are inadvertently supporting a species that harms them.

Over 40% of households across the UK put out bird feed, totalling about 150,000 tonnes a year and costing £210m. But the new analysis, based on video recordings of more than 33,000 visits to bird feeders, showed much of the food is being snaffled by squirrels."

Damian Carrington reports for the Guardian May 10, 2018.