Scientists develop birth control pill for foxes (From Gazette & Herald)

Scientists develop birth control pill for foxes

A FOX birth control pill being developed by York scientists could be the key to preventing a rise in the fox population after hunting with hounds becomes illegal.

A team from the University of York's environment department is working with international experts to find ways to control the numbers of foxes, feral cats, rabbits, feral pigs and mice in Australia.

Experts believe that they could engineer a form of birth control which would be spread by attaching it to a non-fatal disease released into the species.

Campaigners fighting to save hunting with hounds in England and Wales argue that the fox population will explode when the impending ban comes into effect.

The York team, headed by Dr Piran White, is one of only two international groups to take part in a new Australasian Invasive Co-operative Research Centre that aims to reduce the impacts of species which are the scourge of native flora and fauna.

Dr White has advised the Government on the control of wildlife diseases and was involved in the recent Government inquiry into hunting with dogs.

He told the Evening Press they hoped to find alternatives to the current Australian methods of controlling species, which include poisoning foxes and releasing the calicivirus disease, a predecessor to myxomatosis, into rabbits.

"The whole process of controlling population is quite complicated," he said. "There have been no attempts at birth control in the wild as far as I know. There has been some interest in this country and there have been studies trying to control fertility among grey squirrels."

But Dr White said there would be ethical issues surrounding the use of any genetically engineered birth control method that may mean it could never see the light of day.

"Our research is currently at a very early stage, but by the end of the seven years, the technology will be available. Then it will be up to the policy makers as to whether they want to go ahead."

Updated: 11:06 Tuesday, February 01, 2005