UC Davis officials say the researchers will try to reduce the number of nonnative fox squirrels by giving some of them hormone injections.
Officials say none of the squirrels existed on campus seven years ago, but they now estimate there are at least 400.
Faculty wildlife experts and students will mark some squirrels for study this fall. The critters will be recaptured and some will receive the hormone injections.
Federal wildlife biologists hope the program can be used to manage populations of other animals, such as deer and ground squirrels.
