Red squirrels are critically at risk from grey squirrel competition and squirrelpox virus, and their conservation involves difficult decisions with welfare implications.
Red squirrel conservation presents a genuine welfare dilemma. The primary conservation tool - culling grey squirrels - involves direct killing of large numbers of sentient mammals. The welfare of culled grey squirrels is often given little consideration, yet they are capable of experiencing fear, pain, and distress. Trapping and lethal control methods vary in their humaneness. The development of oral contraceptive baiting for grey squirrels offers a compelling alternative that could reduce or replace lethal control while achieving conservation objectives. From a welfare perspective, a precautionary approach to culling methods - ensuring rapid, humane death when culling is necessary - and active investment in contraceptive alternatives is most justifiable.