Galwegians asked to help 'spot the squirrels'

Red Squirrel is Ireland's only native squirrel species

RESEARCHERS at University of Galway are inviting the members of public to become Citizen Scientists and help track some of the most iconic woodland mammals in the county.

The 2026 All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey launched this week to mark Red Squirrel Appreciation Day.

Led by researchers in University of Galway, Ulster Wildlife and the Vincent Wildlife Trust, the survey aims to map the latest distribution of red and grey squirrels, and the pine marten across the island of Ireland.

Members of the public are invited to record their sightings of the three species throughout the year, helping researchers build a detailed picture of how their populations are changing.

The red squirrel is Ireland’s only native squirrel species, that was once widespread in forests and wooded areas.

The introduction of the grey squirrel in 1911 has had devastating consequences on the native species through disease and competition for food, leading to the disappearance of red squirrels from large parts of the country.

However, recent surveys have revealed a remarkable and unexpected turnaround, with the grey squirrel being knocked back in certain areas, and reds showing signs of recovery.

Research has linked this shift to the successful comeback of another native species, the pine marten. It is a tree dwelling carnivore and one of the few predators that can successfully hunt grey squirrels.

Because the red squirrel evolved alongside pine martens, they are better adapted to avoiding and escaping the danger.

Dr Colin Lawton of University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences said that the survey in 2019 had found that the grey squirrel had disappeared from tenmidland counties and the red squirrel and pine marten were doing well.

“However, the dynamics between the three species are finely balanced now, and we need to continue to monitor them to make sure things don’t change again.

“The greys continue to spread in the south and northwest, and they are doing particularly well in urban areas, where pine martens are very rare,” he added.

He further explained the importance of records from the public and said: “This fantastic wealth of information plays a crucial role in protecting our native biodiversity.”

The 2026 survey is being delivered with the support of the National Biodiversity Data Centre in the Republic of Ireland and CEDaR in Northern Ireland.

The public can record the sightings of all three mammals through the online survey forms available on www.biodiversityireland.ie and www2.habitas.org.uk/records.