I make pâté out of grey squirrels

Jun 10 2009 by Michelle Coyle, Denbigh Visitor

I make pâté out of grey squirrels

SQUIRREL pâté has become the latest weapon in the war against the invasive grey pest.

Fans of Wales’ native red squirrel have been so keen to support the venture that stocks of the delicacy have sold out.

Now the producers are appealing to gardeners and game keepers to provide the bushy tailed ingredient.

Jenny Whitham, from Denbighshire food company Patchwork Pâté, decided to make the pâté after catching a grey squirrel. She is now in desperate need of more after ridding her Llandegla garden of them.

She said: “Squirrels had been pinching my chickens’ feed and I had always threatened I would make a pâté out of the grey squirrels. We caught one and it was delicious, just like chicken, so we caught five more.”

The pâté, made with hazelnuts and Frangelico hazelnut liqueur, went on sale online in February, with all money going to the Friends of Anglesey Red Squirrels and its woodland education centre near Pentraeth.

The sales raised over £250 as the initial 60 pots made sold out in two weeks.

Jenny said: “We have various feelers out there trying to source some more grey squirrels but we haven’t been successful yet. Hopefully readers will be able to help. Ideally we want squirrels from North Wales.

“We haven’t had any negative comeback from animal rights activists over the squirrel pâté.”

The RSPCA have advocated contraceptives for grey squirrels instead of an outright cull.

Spokeswoman Judith Haw said: “Plans to protect the red squirrel can represent a difficult balance between wildlife conservation and animal welfare.

“The RSPCA is concerned about the welfare of both red and grey squirrels, and believes control must not be interpreted solely as lethal control.

“We believe science-based alternative measures to culling to reduce the impact of grey squirrels should be actively investigated. These could include immuno-contraception trials.

“Eradicating long-established entire populations of greys would be very difficult and cause suffering. We will always support plans that achieve the best possible welfare outcomes for the species concerned.”