Non-lethal control is unlikely ever to replace trapping and shooting entirely as a way to suppress greys. But fertility control and natural predation offer attractive and additional ‘tools in the toolbox’. Research by Giovanna Massei at the National Wildlife Management Centre, part of the Animal & Plant Health Agency unit based outside York, is moving existing fertility control science to the point where a strategy for grey squirrels can be applied. The 5-year research programme uses existing and proven US developed contraceptives married with leading edge British oral delivery technology. A key component of the research will be the development of a grey squirrel-specific hopper, delivering the oral contraceptive on treated feed. Here is Giovanna’s full report>>
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