Grey squirrels, introduced from North America, outcompete native red squirrels and damage woodland. Their management raises significant animal welfare questions.
Current grey squirrel control methods include trapping and shooting, which can cause significant suffering if not carried out correctly. Inhumane trapping or slow death after capture creates acute pain and distress. Drowning trapped squirrels - once common - is now widely condemned. Poison controls carry risks of secondary poisoning of non-target species. Immunocontraception offers a potentially more humane long-term solution.