All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey

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We invite members of the public to assist with a new survey throughout 2026, to investigate the distribution of squirrels and the pine marten in Ireland. CEDaR has teamed up with University of Galway, Ulster Wildlife, Vincent Wildlife Trust and the National Biodiversity Data Centre in this research, which follows similar surveys conducted in 2007, 2012 and 2019. Since their introduction in 1911, the grey squirrel has spread throughout a large area of the island of Ireland. The red squirrel, impacted by competition and disease spread by the greys, has previously struggled and retracted in range as a result. In the most recent surveys in 2012 and 2019, however, 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. In 2019, the red squirrel had recovered in some areas in the midlands, however, the grey squirrel continued to spread in the southwest and northwest.

Please submit sightings of red squirrels, grey squirrels and pine martens via the online recording form, and 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 frequency of seeing the animals, using the ‘Comments’ box. We may contact you subsequently to help verify sightings.

Alternatively, please submit your sightings directly to Ulster Wildlife - Report your wildlife sightings | Ulster Wildlife

For sightings in the Republic of Ireland please report via National Biodiversity Data Centre - Recording System :: Start recording

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:*

Abundance: *

Please enter 0 abundance if no species were present.

Certainty:

Date of sighting: *

Alive or Dead:

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.

Photos:

Comments:

Your details

Sensitivity

Is the record sensitive?

Blur record to:

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

First name: *

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.

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.