PREVIEW

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help bring back the red squirrel across Britain thanks to a new squirrel feeder.

Red squirrels were once common across the UK, until the spread of the Eastern grey squirrel wiped them out across large parts of England. It is now mainly found in Scotland, with small pockets of protected woodlands.

However, a new tool capable of distinguishing between red and grey squirrels with remarkable accuracy is being hailed as a potential game changer by conservationists.

The system, known as Squirrel Agent, has been trained on thousands of images, enabling it to identify the two species with 97% accuracy, according to its developers Genysys Engine.

Company co-founder Emma McClenaghan, says: “We created a squirrel agent that can detect red or grey squirrels with their features, and we use this data to carry out multiple actions.”

It can automatically manage access to squirrel feeders—allowing red squirrels to feed while steering grey squirrels towards feeders containing contraceptive paste.

Explaining how it can even help keep red squirrels healthy, she adds: “These could include dispensing contraceptives, traps for grey squirrels, medicine dispensing for squirrel pox, feeders for reds only, and alerting charities through lights, messages, and sound systems that a grey squirrel is in a red squirrel territory.”

The tool is currently being trialled at various sites across the UK in collaboration with five wildlife charities.

Genysys Engine, based in the village of Dromara in Northern Ireland, hopes the technology will eventually be adapted for use with other species requiring sophisticated monitoring.

Over the past two centuries since their introduction from North America, grey squirrels have outcompeted reds for food and also spread squirrelpox, the virus that is harmless to themselves but often fatal to red squirrels.

To bring back the red, Squirrel Agent uses advanced vision models to analyse fur colour, body size, ear shape, and weight to distinguish between the two species—even when their colours are similar.

The system automates decisions to either support red squirrels with food or limit grey squirrels’ reproduction by providing contraceptives.

Future upgrades aim to include whisker recognition technology, which is unique to each squirrel. This would allow researchers to track individual animals, monitor family lines, and build a more detailed picture of population dynamics over time.

For now, conservationists are optimistic that tools like Squirrel Agent could revolutionise efforts to protect one of Britain’s most beloved endangered species.

Trials continue in woodlands across the country, with researchers eagerly watching to see if this groundbreaking technology can make the difference in the fight to save the red squirrel - and if extended, help it make a comeback in areas it has disappeared from.

Genysys Engine’s work goes beyond squirrels. The company, which specialises in connected AI systems, has developed tools ranging from plant-monitoring agents that detect deficiencies and pests to 3D printing assistants that can create replacement parts for damaged systems.

Their approach relies on a unified AI network, enabling different tools to work together seamlessly. For instance, a botanical agent might collaborate with a 3D printing agent to address an issue in an automated greenhouse.