There are advertisements in the Shinrone area asking for information about red and grey squirrels and the elusive pine marten. A group is trying to collate information about these three species, of which two might be considered native to Ireland. The story is well-enough known. Red squirrels thrived here for centuries, but have been under threat ever since their grey cousins were introduced from America. Gradually the reds have been pushed back, clinging to ever smaller pockets of territory while the more aggressive greys expanded their range and took over the prime sites. It is hoped that the Shannon will provide some sort of barrier to the western spread of the greys, but by and large the outlook for the red squirrel is not good.
Now it seems as if the pine marten may be helping to restore some sort of balance. Its numbers are rising and they are serial hunters of grey squirrels, providing a much-needed natural predator to keep numbers under control. Information is sought from people who have seen all three species living, and hence interacting, in the same neighbourhood.
Squirrels are rodents, of which there are about 2,000 known species, including rats, mice, marmots, prairie dogs, beavers, voles and moles. About 40% of mammals are rodents and they are some of the most successful breeders and colonisers on the planet, moving in to just about every habitat you can think of. Red squirrels are among the most endearing. They make a nest or “drey” and are imperfect and erratic hibernators, driven inside to sleep only in severe weather. They rarely spend the whole winter in a state of coma, but will often pop out to look for nuts they have buried in their winter store.
Squirrels hurriedly dig shallow holes, in which they will deposit a nut, usually hazel nuts or acorns. The process is haphazard and unmethodical, and there is no reason to suppose that they ever recover more than a small proportion of what they have buried. This is almost certainly a major reason why oak trees tend to grow in unexpected places (along with the less pleasant bowel habits of horses and pigs). Our squirrel will smooth the soil over the hastily buried nuts, and then moves on to a new site until a vast store is laid down throughout the woodland to see him through the coming winter.
The more aggressive grey squirrels are an alien introduction from America, and they lack the plumed ears, grace and fascination of our native reds. They have gained a bad reputation as thieves, snatching what they can from bird tables and birds’ nests. They have been remarkably successful in spreading far and wide across Ireland, and once they move into an area, you will not see much of the downtrodden reds.
The pine marten is a handsome cat-like creature. They are mustelids, related to badgers, otters, mink and weasel. Pine marten numbers were driven to the brink of extinction because of the cutting down of forests and woodland. They are by nature arboreal (tree-dwelling) but have been forced to ground level and have learned to adapt by taking on a totally new way of life. This tree loving beast of the old woodlands and pine forests is now a raider of hen houses and underground hunter. Ducks, hens, rabbits and rats are all favourites of this highly carnivorous hunter. Nothing is safe from them. They will search the tree canopy for nests and eggs, burrow into rabbit holes, grab fish, frogs, newts and lizards out of streams and ponds. Insects and berries are also favourites.
Reafforestation has played a major part in the growth of pine marten populations in Ireland and Scotland. Legal changes give them much needed protection, not least by stopping the use of the terrible gin traps that were once far too common in the countryside and nearly exterminated this much needed predator. Nature needs a balance of species, and a flourishing pine marten population will help to control rats and grey squirrels. If you can provide information about these three species, contact us at Cabragh Wetlands and we will pass it on - cabraghwetlands@eircom.net, or telephone 0504-43879. Visit our website at www.cabraghwetlands,ie.
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