All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey

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The Centre for Environmental Data and Recording has teamed up with researchers in NUI Galway, the Ulster Wildlife and Vincent Wildlife Trust, with the support of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Northern Ireland Environment Agency, to carry out a new survey to investigate the distribution of squirrels and the pine marten in Ireland. This follows similar surveys conducted in 1997, 2007 and 2012, and allows us to monitor the progress of the grey squirrel invasion, and its impact on the native red squirrel. Since their introduction to Ireland in 1911, the grey squirrel has spread throughout a large area of the island of Ireland. The red squirrel, although still quite widespread, has disappeared from some areas as a result of competition and disease spread by the greys. In the most recent survey in 2012, however, there were indications that the grey squirrel had been knocked back in certain areas, and this has been attributed to the recovery of another native species, the pine marten.

We invite members of the public to submit sightings of red squirrels, grey squirrels and pine martens via the online record form. Please include a photograph, if you have one. Besides the location we would be interested to hear any other details, such as how often you see the animal, or if you have noticed a change in the animals you see, using the ‘Comments’ box. We may contact you subsequently to help verify sightings.

Guide to Species Identification

Red Squirrel © Joe Kilroy

Picture: Red Squirrel © Joe Kilroy

Red Squirrel

(Sciurus vulgaris)

Native species

Weight: 240-350g

Length: 180-240mm

Fur Colour: Red-brown, chestnut or grey-brown fur, with a white belly. Tail can vary in colour, and can be dark, red or blonde. They often have prominent ear tufts, which are most obvious during the winter months.

Comments: Red squirrels are relatively shy and elusive, and are most frequently seen up in the canopy of trees.

Grey Squirrel © Gillian Day

Picture: Grey Squirrel © Gillian Day

Grey squirrel

(Sciurus carolinensis)

Non-native species

Weight: 450-720g

Length: 240-280mm

Fur Colour: Grey fur, occasionally chestnut coloured on the back and haunches, particularly in the summer. Tail is grey, with a white fringe to the hair. No ear tufts

Comments: Grey squirrels are bolder than red squirrels, and so tend to be more conspicuous. They spend more of their time on the woodland floor.

Pine Marten © Ronald Surgenor

Picture: Pine Marten © Ronald Surgenor

Pine marten

(Martes martes)

Native species

Weight: 1.5-2.1kg

Length: 410-520mm

Fur Colour: Dark brown fur, with a large cream or yellow coloured throat patch.

Comments: They are typically nocturnal, and very good climbers. They could be confused with other mustelid carnivores, such as the American mink, but pine marten are larger and have prominent rounded ears. Mink have darker fur, and are more frequently found close to water.

Important: if you use this site regularly, please remember to login.

This will give you access to the My Records report which allows you to manage your data.

What did you see?

Species:*

Please select the species you want to submit a record for.

Abundance: *

Provide an indication of the abundance. Please enter 0 abundance if no species were present.

Alive or Dead:

Certainty:

Determiner:

If you have had an expert confirm the identification of a record please add their name in the 'Determiner' field. This will help when the record is being verified.

Date of sighting (required): *

Sensitivity

Is the record sensitive?

Blur record to:

This is the precision that the record will be shown at for public viewing

Photos:

Comments:

Your details

Email: *

We will only use your email address if we need to contact you about your record.
If you are logged into the system, please do not lock these values. The information will be auto-filled from your account profile.

First name:

Last name:

Telephone Number:

Name(s) of any additional recorder(s):

Please provide the spatial reference and site name for the record.

Search for a place on the map:

This gives us an approximate grid reference for the location. We'll then move the map so that you can click on it to provide an accurate position for the record(s). Note: contents of this field will not be retained as part of the record.

Spatial reference: *

By clicking on the map the spatial reference will autofill. The more you zoom in, the more accurate the grid reference.

Site name: *

For example the nearest town, village, park, nature reserve etc. Please do not enter a postal address as the information you provide will be visible to others.

Habitat:

Notes about using the map:
use the + sign on the right hand side of the map to change the base mapping used from maps to satellite images or OpenStreetMap maps.
To create an accurate and useful record, use your mouse to drag the area of interest to the centre of the map window and use the zoombar on the left hand side to zoom in tight to the area where you made the sighting. When you have zoomed in, click on the location - this will autofill the Spatial Reference box.