Forest Research Ecology Division are carrying out collaborative studies with the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) and the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Fort Collins, USA.
A single-dose vaccine against Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone will be tested in captive grey squirrels.
The vaccine has been used successfully in a number of species in USA to prevent reproduction but is not species specific. Specificity will need to be achieved through bait delivery systems.
The work involves identification of the best carrier bait, methods to evaluate bait uptake by individual animals, whilst minimising risks to non-target species, followed by a vaccine trial
This work, funded by the Forestry Commission & Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), is progressing steadily and is scheduled to be completed by April 2008.