These are forest rodents
\nArboreal omnivorus,
\nBroad leaved woodland
\nThey love Scots Pine
\nAnd NOrway Spruce
\nAnd before us<\/p>\n
They would sit in common woodland
\nAll over the land
\nUntil the grey descended
\nWhich apparently wasn’t planned<\/p>\n
But the grey was a bit bigger
\nAte acorns which the red
\nThey Never could digest them
\nAnd are susceptible it is said
\nTo the parapoxvirus carried by the greys
\nWho it doesnt seem to really harm
\nSo the ensuing malaise<\/p>\n
Helped to wipe out reds
\nAnd then the other problem for
\nThe reds is when they get stressed out
\nThey fail to mate and whats more
\nThey have a lot to get stressed about
\nAnd so the greys appear
\nTo have now taken over
\nThat much we know is clear<\/p>\n
Reds still live in certain places
\nBut their enemies abound
\nPine martens wild cats even stoats
\nPlenty of them around
\nOwls Too that are partial
\nTo reds i have heard say
\nAnd the fox will take them given the chance
\nAnd Buzzards any day<\/p>\n
They pay a high price for their timidity
\nEating as they do all sorts of seeds and fungi
\nAnd nuts and shoots its true
\nSometimes they take birds eggs
\nForaging is their thing
\nThey just cannot compete with the greys
\nWho too the forest bring<\/p>\n
An attractiveness i have to say
\nWith theur undulating tail
\nMating twice a year like reds
\nBut always on the trail
\nNearly always eating
\nKeeping busy all the day
\nReally strong and vibrant
\nAnd aggressive I must say<\/p>\n
No love loss between them
\nThey are opposites it seems
\nOne will fight the others
\nAnd propably there are reams
\nOf stories about theSe animals
\nBut infact for me
\nThe reds are disadvantaged
\nAnd that is probably<\/p>\n
The cause for their rarity
\nInspired to write by my dear twitter friend
\nLIsa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
These are forest rodents Arboreal omnivorus, Broad leaved woodland They love Scots Pine And NOrway Spruce And before us They would sit in common woodland All over the land Until the grey descended Which apparently wasn’t planned But the grey … Continue reading