Jerry Moss and the Brocock Ranger XR: I've been involved in the BRK Brocock Ranger XR project for months. And in that time, I've used a prototype rifle to control grey squirrel numbers over my areas around Cumbria.
In chats over the years with Tony at Brocock, we have often talked about a small compact rifle, so when Tony contacted me to say let’s see what we can do I was delighted to be involved.
There are numerous reasons why I was looking for that compact rifle. In my work as a red squirrel conservation ranger, I walk miles. Through woods and forests in search of the grey pests. So, having a lightweight compact rifle would be helpful. Also, the rifle fits in a small backpack with its stock folded. Other reasons are shooting greys at feeding areas using either a hide or from my pick up, the small short rifle is a bonus in confined spaces.
The ranger I have been using is in sub12 .177 and with a shot count of around 35 thanks to the onboard Huma reg is more than enough for me and my daily work in fact sometimes that’s fine for over a week.
Why control Grey Squirrels in the UK?
Long ago, red squirrels were all over Great Britain. Nowadays, they are only seen in a few wooded areas in:
- The North of England
- West Wales
- Many parts of Scotland.
- Anglesey
- The Isle of Wight
- Brownsea Island
- Thetford Forest in Norfolk
Red squirrels have been found in England since the end of the last Ice Age and are part of our native fauna. The non-native grey squirrel was introduced to England in the late 1870s from America and is the primary cause of the decline of the red squirrel.
It does so by out-competing red squirrels for food in deciduous and mixed woodlands and by transmitting a disease ‘squirrel pox, the squirrel Parapoxvirus, which is lethal to red squirrels.
Who is Jerry Moss?
Jerry Moss is a professional pest controller and a member of the Penrith and district red squirrel group in Cumbria UK. For the last 18 years, he has been working to support the Red Squirrel populations in the Whinfell Forest area of Cumbria. An area of outstanding natural beauty.