Red letter day! Newly introduced squirrels are now ruling the Castle
RED squirrels have been introduced in a bid to establish a new population in Ireland. The first four have been released at the Castle Ward estate in Co. Down, with more to follow soon.
The quartet were carefully transported by Belfast Zoo and Ulster Wildlife in hay-lined nest boxes to a soft-release pen in the estate to allow them to get used to their new surroundings, before taking their leap into the wild.
The move is part of an ongoing effort between the UK’s National Trust, Ulster Wildlife, Belfast Zoo, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, and the Heart of Down Red Squirrel Group, to secure the long-term future of this increasingly rare mammal. They were released into a
‘Grey squirrels carry a fatal disease for our native reds’
specially selected location in the Castle Ward estate, picked for its woodland habitat as well as being free from invasive grey squirrels – the biggest threat to the red squirrel’s survival.
Cormac Dolan, area ranger at National Trust Castle Ward, said the project shows how the native species can be given the chance to make a comeback. ‘Our healthy population of pine marten at Castle Ward, alongside the work of local volunteers, has allowed for the absence of the invasive grey squirrel,’ he said.
‘Greys carry a fatal disease for our native reds and they also out-compete them for food and territory. The pine marten and red squirrel have evolved together in our local ecosystems and can much more easily share habitat.’
Red squirrels have declined since the grey was introduced in the 19th century.