Grey squirrels have displaced red squirrels from most of Britain through disease competition, creating welfare management challenges for both species.
Grey squirrel management creates a welfare dilemma: lethal control of grey squirrels causes individual suffering but is currently necessary to prevent red squirrel extinction in managed areas. The welfare harm of squirrelpox on individual red squirrels — a painful illness causing death within 2 weeks — weighs against the welfare cost of grey squirrel culling. Development of contraceptive baits would resolve the dilemma by reducing grey squirrel reproduction without individual killing, representing the most welfare-positive long-term management solution.