Film: Gene drive grey squirrels

UK scientists have proposed gene drive as a management tool to control grey squirrels. Now is a good time to talk about this emerging technology because the hopes and concerns of experts, stakeholders and the public can help to determine if or how it might be developed.

To help foster this debate, we made a short research film on gene drive grey squirrels. The film draws on our social science research to show the complexity of the problem of grey squirrel control and invites you to think about whether scientists should develop gene drive squirrels or not.

Project goals

To date, much of the discussion of gene drive has focused on its use in public health, particularly gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control. However, in the last few years, researchers have begun to develop the technology to address conservation challenges, primarily for managing invasive species.

In the UK, policies label grey squirrels an invasive species and they are a controlled animal. Grey squirrels pose a threat to climate and conservation initiatives by damaging trees and they also displace native red squirrels. However, grey squirrels are cute and one of the most seen British mammals. Current management techniques rely heavily on killing squirrels by trapping and shooting, although research is exploring contraception and pine marten introductions too.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh and the European Squirrel Initiative have proposed gene drive grey squirrels as a new possible management tool. At this early stage, there has been very little engagement with experts involved in invasive species management to understand how gene drives might play a role in conservation, particularly in the UK.

We explore this emerging technology with UK experts in the areas of woodland management, red squirrel conservation, invasive species management, and animal ethics and protection.

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