There is no single, straightforward way to safeguard the future of this native mammal at the moment – but here are some options
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Culling
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Avian influenza virus — or bird flu — can infect domestic poultry such as chickens and turkeys, as well as wild birds. The H5N1 strain has been identified in Canada.
Squirrel feeders laced with contraceptives could be used to suppress grey squirrels in the UK.
Conflict between fruit-growers, the Mauritian government and conservationists has dragged on for years – it’s time for a new approach.
Recent shark-related deaths fuel the debate around the best way to keep people safe in the water, without hurting marine wildlife.
Wild ponies have lived in Britain for over 4,000 years, but they’re in danger of dying out.
Introduced species are often targeted for culling in conservation, but killing charismatic animals like foxes can be controversial.
If harm to native wildlife is the main concern then there are much bigger targets for control than grey squirrels.
The NSW government has announced plans to remove feral deer from its list of official game animals. With careful monitoring, the resulting free-for-all could help curb their booming numbers.
They swim, they eat, they multiply.
The plan to kill 2 million feral cats nationwide by 2020 makes for good headlines. But it’s also a simplistic goal that won’t necessarily deliver conservation benefits to native species.
Fox hunting has been banned in the UK since 2004 – so why is it still happening?
Wild boars are being scapegoated for an epidemic of African swine flu that threatens the pork industry.
The return of white sharks to Cape Cod, Massachusetts was a tourism success story – until a shark killed a swimmer. Can the Cape’s residents and visitors learn to share the ocean with these apex predators?
The poisoning of dozens of wedge-tailed hawks in Victoria could affect the entire wild population.
Failing to cull feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park may end up promoting environmental destruction while actually increasing the horses’ suffering.
A reserve near Amsterdam lost many wild cattle and deer over the tough winter, leading to public protests. Yet this was a failure of Dutch politics rather than rewilding itself.
Grey squirrels have lots of attractive characteristics, yet they are actively persecuted by humankind.
What’s the answer? Fight or flight?
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has offered to extend the state’s shark netting and drum lines into New South Wales.
Top contributors
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Ecologist, Edinburgh Napier University
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Academic Fellow, University of Sydney
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Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University
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Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
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Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
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ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor in Marine Fisheries Ecology, Macquarie University
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Associate professor, University of Sydney
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Professor, School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University
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Course Director, MSc Biodiversity, Conservation and Management, University of Oxford
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Doctoral School Programmes Manager, Nottingham Trent University
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Associate Professor, Ecology, Northumbria University, Newcastle
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Associate Professor of Ecology, Western Sydney University
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Principal Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University
