King Charles visit squirrel contraceptive project to save rare red squirrels

Image: The Royal Family (left) King Charles visited a research project in North Yorkshire exploring a new way to control Britain's grey squirrel population and help protect its native red squirrels. During his visit on May 26, 2026, the King met scientists at the Animal and Plant Health Agency's York Biotech Campus in Sand Hutton and learned about research into an oral contraceptive for grey squirrels. The approach is designed to reduce reproduction rather than rely only on conventional population control. Grey squirrels are an introduced species that competes with red squirrels for food and living space. They also carry squirrelpox, a virus that is usually fatal to reds. Researchers are developing a targeted feeding system to deliver the contraceptive to greys while keeping red squirrels and other wildlife out.King Charles sees unusual squirrel projectDuring the visit, Charles met the Animal and Plant Health Agency's wildlife scientists and saw how the contraceptive, which is delivered in a hazelnut paste, is developed. Dr Julie Lane, head of the agency's National Wildlife Management Centre, told him: "Without you, this work would not be happening at all." She later said the King ...