All Live95 News
Via Katy Bell
Have you spotted any recently?
Limerick City and County Council is calling on the public to help track three of Ireland’s most iconic woodland mammals: the Red Squirrel, the Grey Squirrel, and the Pine Marten.
The 2026 All-Ireland survey, led by the University of Galway, Ulster Wildlife, and the Vincent Wildlife Trust, relies on citizen scientists to record sightings and upload photos to help researchers map population trends.
The native red squirrel has faced decades of decline due to competition and disease brought by the invasive grey squirrel.
However, recent data shows a surprising twist, the comeback of the native pine marten is helping the reds.
Pine martens hunt grey squirrels effectively, and red squirrels, having evolved alongside pine martens, are better at escaping them, allowing their populations to recover in areas where the predator is present.
Sinead McDonnell, Limerick’s Biodiversity Officer, noted that grey squirrel and pine marten sightings remain low in the county. “We are hopeful that the relative absence of grey squirrels will persist,” she said, emphasising that more public reporting is vital to understanding the local balance between these species.
While red and pine marten populations are improving in some midland counties, grey squirrels are still thriving in urban areas where pine martens are rare.
Limerick citizens are asked to record their sightings on the Biodiversity Ireland website.
The Vincent Wildlife Trust also advises homeowners to ‘pine marten-proof’ their attics now, as the animals may seek nesting spots in buildings due to a lack of natural tree cavities.
