I WAS interested to read James Loch’s letter (The Herald, December7 ) in which he lambasts grey squirrels as “tree rats”.

This description was used against red squirrels at the turn of the last century when those with forestry interests slaughtered more than 80,000 in the Highlands.

Now it’s the turn of the grey squirrels to be persecuted.

This apart, a pox virus was found in red squirrel populations in more than 40 districts in England before greys were introduced.

From the early 1980s when Squirrel Pox Virus (SQPV) was identified, there has been little mention of the earlier virus affecting reds.

So the inconvenient truth is that the disease affecting reds was only “identified” and must have existed earlier.

Red squirrels also carry and pass SQPV to other reds which, again, is something seldom mentioned. Red squirrels have never been native to Scotland.

When challenged, a Scottish Natural Heritage manager confided to me that “they are probably more native than greys”. That truly says it all.

All squirrels should be valued as wildlife and be allowed freedom to live out their lives irrespective of their colour – just as we are.

Angus Macmillan,

Meikle Boturich, near Balloch,

Dunbartonshire.

THE letter from James Loch reminded me of a conversation that took place some years ago at Glasgow University Veterinary School.

While I was sitting in the tea room musing on how much I enjoyed watching the machinations of the squirrels outside in the trees, one of the young vets asked: “Ronnie, you do realise that they’re just rats with bushy tails?”

To which I promptly replied: “And you’re just a monkey without much hair.” Yes, I am aware that is more complicated, but the point was made.

James Loch and all other readers and members staff of The Herald might ponder this whenever any of us feels superior to any other animal.

Dr Ronnie Gallagher,

5 Wyndhead Steading,

Lauder.

I AM so pleased that there are supporters of grey squirrels writing to The Herald.

Children and adults have always enjoyed seeing them in public parks, and I enjoyed watching their acrobatics when I lived next to a wood.

Perhaps they are only the poor man’s squirrel but they have given me a lot of pleasure over the years.

I would much rather have a grey squirrel visiting my garden than a cat. I once saw a grey squirrel burying something in my garden.

A few hours later, I was amazed to see it digging up a KitKat in the same spot.

I then watched as the squirrel sat on the fence, peeled the paper off, and ate the biscuit.

Surely, after bringing them to Britain 140 years ago, we can accept them as British mammals with equal rights to red squirrels when there are more reds in the world than greys.

They are definitely not “tree rats”.

Apparently, in 1903 the Highland Squirrel Club was formed.

It proudly announced that it had destroyed some 82,000 red squirrels in its 35 years of existence.

Let’s not repeat that tragedy by culling the greys.

A Speed,

153 West Princes Street,

Helensburgh.