Scientists in the U.K. are using AI to protect native red squirrels by controlling the population of invasive grey squirrels. A new software tool called Squirrel Agent can identify red and grey squirrels with 97% accuracy.
Grey squirrels, introduced to the U.K. about 200 years ago, have caused a decline in red squirrel numbers by spreading a deadly virus to them. To tackle this issue, Squirrel Agent automatically manages squirrel feeders. It allows red squirrels to access food while giving grey squirrels feeders containing contraceptive paste.
Emma McClenaghan, co-founder of Genysys Engine, the company behind Squirrel Agent, explains, “It’s a great example of how AI can work in real time to solve problems we don’t have enough people to address.”
AI has also been used in other conservation efforts, such as tracking milkweed plants for monarch butterflies and identifying coral diseases. These tools are helping solve environmental challenges that might otherwise be too expensive or difficult to manage.
Protecting red squirrels is important for the U.K.’s ecosystem. Red squirrels help regenerate pine woodlands, which store over 23 million tons of carbon pollution annually. Although grey squirrels also spread seeds, red squirrels are better adapted to pine woodlands, making them vital for this ecosystem.
Without red squirrels, the U.K. would lose one of its iconic native animals, along with the environmental benefits they bring. AI tools like Squirrel Agent offer hope for preserving these species and their habitats.
Source: thecooldown
