squirrels not red & buried
pine martens taking a bite out of greys
THE red squirrel is making a comeback in Ireland... and it’s all thanks to pine martens.
The creatures feast on grey squirrels – which carry a disease fatal to their red cousins.
New research by NUI Galway discovered the population of the foragers is soaring in several counties.
Red squirrels compete for food with the invasive greys, who have wiped them out in some areas.
Researchers said yesterday: “The re-emergence of the pine marten, which had previously almost disappeared in Ireland, is linked to the local demise of the greys.”
High numbers of pine martens were found in areas – particularly the Midlands – where grey squirrels have disappeared, with red numbers recovering in many of these places.
However, in urban areas such as Dublin and Belfast, the grey continues to thrive.
They were introduced to Ireland early in the 20th century and spread to cover the eastern half of the island.
As a result, the red squirrel range had contracted over several years and was struggling to survive.
The citizen science survey, cross-border collaboration with the Ulster Wildlife and Vincent Wildlife Trust led by NUI Galway, detected significant changes in the ranges of squirrels and pine martens, particularly in the
Midlands and the North.
NUI Galway’s Dr Colin Lawton said: “We are delighted with the response from the public, who were enthusiastic and showed a wealth of knowledge of Ireland’s wildlife.
It is great news to see two native species recovering and doing well.”
The report makes recommendations to ensure the red squirrel and pine marten continue to thrive, with further monitoring required to allow early intervention if conservation at a local or national level is required.
Dr Lawton said: “We encourage our citizen scientists to continue to log their sightings on the national platforms. Our collective knowledge is a powerful tool in conservation.”