10060388Innovative Grey Squirrel trapClosedCollaborative R&DISCFGrey Squirrels cause over £38,000,000 of damage to UK woodland annually, by stripping the bark from our native broadleaf trees. This causes deformity to the main stem, creates entry points for disease and when ring-barked, the tree's death. Furthermore, they raid song bird's' nests and infect red squirrels with a lethal Covid type virus, whilst being immune themselves. Current control methods are ineffective and very time consuming. This project will evaluate the prototype development of an automated control process, allowing better tree and habitat protection with a scale-able automated humane control solution. Better tree growth will lead to improved habitats for native animals and plants and an increased contribution to CO2 sequestration. In addition, an alternative and equally innovative approach, would be to use a piston strike to deliver a lethal blow. This would be powered by an innovative electro-mechanical system rather than those of the gas driven devices currently available