Summer 2026 Newsletter

Building the Future of Wildlife

Fertility Control

Looking Ahead With Excitement!

Building on the momentum from our recent International Conference in Barcelona, the BIWFC team is committed to growing this community, advancing the field, engaging emerging practitioners, and connecting experts worldwide. We want BIWFC to be a hub where new ideas take shape, where knowledge is applied, and where people from all disciplines come together around a shared purpose.

We also believe we have an opportunity to change how people think about wildlife management. That change will not come from science alone. It comes through education, honest discussion, and personal connections, one conversation at a time. If we can help others to understand the possibilities of non-lethal population management, we have moved the field forward.

Whether you are a practitioner, researcher, policymaker, student, or simply someone interested in the future of wildlife and human communities, you have a place in this conversation. We invite you to connect with BIWFC as we build a future guided by evidence and coexistence.

BIWFC on the Road

BIWFC staff Derek Rosenfield and Larry Green attended New York University’s annual Wild Animal Welfare Summit, June 25-26. Approximately 50 people attended from the U.S. and Europe, including students, post-doctoral researchers, members of NGO’s and government. The summit covered a wide range of topics including “Fertility and Poison,” “The Role of AI in Wild Animal Welfare,” and “Coalition-Building with Other Research Fields and Social Movements.” BIWFC staff noticed that fertility control is increasingly mentioned in connection with wild animal welfare.

BIWFC Europe Office Update

From the Europe Director

Busy summer focused on teaching and on writing chapters for the 2nd edition of the book on Wildlife Fertility Control that I am co-editing with Dr Cheryl Asa and Dr Anneke Moresco. More than 15 authors will contribute to this edition, including BIWFC colleagues, and we are making slow but steady progress.

Giovanna Massei

We welcomed the latest article from Marinella Correggia on Il Manifesto in Italy, with an extensive piece on the 10^th International Conference on Wildlife Fertility Control and interviews of several colleagues, making a good case for society to consider fertility control for several wildlife species.

UAB Summer School 2026

Our Summer School, Human–Wildlife Coexistence: Navigating the New Frontier of Fertility Control, organised in collaboration with Prof. Manel Lopez-Bejar at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, brought together students from new countries. France, the U.S., Egypt, Singapore, India and China were represented by the 13 students that attended the school. The feedback received so far was unanimously excellent. Students loved our enthusiasm and passion for the subject and enjoyed the time spent learning. Some commented they would appreciate if we added more group discussions and activity sessions: wonderful idea, we will! We are now discussing with various universities and organisations the possibility of repeating the summer school in other regions of the world. It is likely that a new format will be one full week, with teaching and activities provided by the BIWFC and by local colleagues. Stay tuned!

STUDENT VOICES:

Reflections from the 2026 Summer School

“Thank you for a truly inspiring week. I loved every session. Each one was clear, thought‑provoking, and packed with ideas I’ll carry with me. I remember the cases we discussed. Your balanced way of presenting both scientific and public policy really made me think, especially showing some detailed solution. Even though I’m not a wildlife major, this week has made me seriously consider this area as a future direction. I also enjoyed the discussions and group work we had. What I would really like is even more hands‑on practice. I know our topic doesn’t easily lend itself to field work, but maybe we could try things like designing simple awareness materials, interviewing local people, or running a mock policy debate. Just some ideas. Either way, this week has been wonderful. Thank you again for your time and passion.” -Vivian

See More Summer School Feedback

News from the World

Fertility control for macaques in Bali

Growing interactions between humans and nonhuman primates highlight the need to understand the implications of using fertility control to manage synanthropic primate populations. A team from Bali investigated the effect of tubectomy on long-tailed macaque behavior. Tubectomy (or tubal ligation) is a permanent method of contraception in which the fallopian tubes are blocked to prevent the egg from reaching the uterus and being fertilised. Compared with intact females, sterilized females were more sexually receptive and attractive, received longer grooming bouts from male partners and aggression from fewer females. The study concluded that, at least in the short term, tubectomy modifies sociosexual interactions but does not increase aggression. Giraud, et al.

Fertility control for East-African rodents

In Ethiopia, damage by rodents to crops ranges from 9% to 44% of annual cereal production. Species of the genus Arvicanthis figure prominently among the rodents responsible for this impact because of their wide distribution, high reproductive capacity, and close association with agricultural landscapes. This laboratory study investigated the antifertility effects of bait containing the synthetic hormones quinestrol and levonorgestrel on the Nile grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus). Quinestrol completely inhibited pregnancy in treated females. In addition, untreated females paired with treated males exhibited lower pregnancy rates and reduced litter sizes, demonstrating the potential of fertility control as a complementary strategy for sustainable rodent management in Africa. Desta, et al.

CABI book

The book “Rodent Pests: Ecology and Management” was published in July. Together with Grant Singleton, Jens Jacob of BIWFC Europe, has edited this 3^rd edition of “Rodent pests and their control” – a substantially restructured and updated version focusing on both ecology and management of rodents with contributions from 46 authors from 20 countries. The book includes a chapter on emerging technologies including fertility control that was co-authored by Giovanna Massei. The book provides a resource for practitioners and scientists in rodent research, rodent pest control, conservation, and public health. Read more →

Raccoon catch-neuter-release in Kassel, Germany is still on hold

A catch-neuter-release project that started last year came to an unexpected stop after only a few days because of legal concerns and intervention by the State Hunting Association. A decision by the State government is expected to be announced in summer. BIWFC's Jens Jacob confirms high raccoon density by personal experience – a raccoon ran into the front wheel while biking through Kassel. Both were startled but unharmed.

Fertility control for Asian elephants and monkeys?

The government of Assam in India is rolling out a new plan to handle human-wildlife conflicts, particularly those involving elephants and monkeys. The plan aims to reduce crop damage, wildlife wandering into villages, and tragic losses, and covers quick relief for affected families, compensation for farmers and long-term solutions such as habitat restoration. The plan mentions sterilization as one of the methods considered by government officials. This reflects similar methods adopted by other Indian states, such as Himachal Pradesh that sterilised around 186,448 macaques since 2006, although local communities have debated whether this method had decreased the impact of monkeys on human activities.

King Charles III Visits Grey Squirrel Fertility Control Research

In May, His Majesty King Charles III visited Yorkshire to meet with Animal & Plant Health Agency scientists working on research funded by the UK Squirrel Accord and supporters to create a fertility control option for invasive grey squirrel management in the UK. As Patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, The King learned about the research which aims to reduce grey squirrel numbers to protect native red squirrels, trees and woodland ecosystems. This project was originally designed and led for five years by Giovanna Massei before she moved to the BIWFC.

Fertility Control Gains Attention in UK Wild Animal Welfare

The Center for Wild Animal Welfare (CWAW) is making fertility control a key area of its work, including efforts to advance alternatives to traditional methods of rodent population management.

CWAW recently collaborated with BIWFC Europe Director Giovanna Massei and other scientists on a briefing addressing rodent fertility control regulations, which Giovanna Massei and Prof. Steve Belmain presented to the UK’s Animal Welfare Minister and Member of The House of Lords, Baroness Sue Hayman. Learn More About CWAW →

Science in Focus

“Sterilization has the potential to serve as a legally viable and ecologically sustainable management strategy which aligns long-term invasive animal species population management with the growing consideration for animal welfare.” Read the full paper here.

Upcoming publications: Massei G. (IN PRESS) From Mice to Elephants: New Tools and Trends in the Wildlife Fertility Control Landscape. 32nd Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings, March 2–5, 2026, San Diego.

Rats in the city?....

Several cities in the U.S. are launching initiatives to reduce the number of rats by using oral contraceptives, which suggests a growing interest for this area. When discussing fertility control, consider these questions, put together by independent experts on rat control.

Wildlife Fertility Control Map

Explore The Global Impact—And Add Yours!

This wildlife fertility control map highlights geographic areas around the world where projects are being implemented. Each project marker provides information about the target species, project focus, and a contact for additional information. Explore the map to learn more about wildlife fertility control efforts taking place around the world.

The map highlights the growing momentum behind non-lethal wildlife management solutions, with new projects added regularly. Explore the full map here.

Put your project on the map!

If you're leading a wildlife fertility control project, we want to hear from you. Submit your details and claim your pin on our map. Let others discover your work and join the global effort to create sustainable, science-based solutions. Submit Your Project ➝

Information Sheets