I am opposed to the open season on gray squirrels. They are beautiful, intelligent animals. They are not rats. Many of us enjoy feeding and watching them in our backyards. Squirrels are an important part of the ecosystem. They plant trees. They are also an important source of food for predators, especially in winter, because gray squirrels do not hibernate.
It is better that they are eaten by hungry hawks or foxes than be used for target practice. As for maple producers, they already can legally kill squirrels because of any damage they do. An alternative would be to use metal sap buckets with covers rather than using plastic tubing. To keep squirrels from getting into a home via the chimney, simply attach a screen to the top of the chimney.
Jo Ann Humphreys
Bow