Looking for grey squirrels

Squirrelsoilder

So what might be a rather odd request, I'm here looking for samples of grey squirrels from all over the country. All I want is a tuft of hair from the tail to carry out DNA work. A grid reference would be great as well.

I'm working on the greys in order to get a better understanding of the population to see if it will help conserve the native red squirrels.

bunny shooter

I have one in freezer if your interested South Tipp

Squirrelsoilder

I am indeed. I'll pm you

bluezulu49

I have tail from squirrel shot in Wicklow in Jan 2008. Happy to supply some hairs for research.

greenpeter

I'l give you some from meath for the cause

Squirrelsoilder

I'm delighted with the great response. I'll pm my details

bunny shooter

Squirrelsoilder wrote: »

I'm delighted with the great response..........

Give it a chance I'm sure more of the lads will be able to help out It's that kind of place :cool:

greenpeter

Squirrelsoilder wrote: »

I'm delighted with the great response. I'll pm my details

I'l send them monday good luck with this could prove to be very intresting. Let us know how it works out.

Slidey

Count Voucher

Gosh, I took pictures of a two grey squirrels just outside the LTP yesterday, I did not know to look for a sample of hair... pictures lack so much detail :-)
Good luck with your research, I heard the grey ones are slowly replacing the red tail squirrels - is this what you are working on?

Trojan911

Squirrelsoilder wrote: »

I'm here looking for samples of grey squirrels from all over the country.

I would gladly help you out, but to be honest, I haven't seen any squirrels in my neck of the woods i.e. West Cork. If I do come across any you are welcome to them/samples etc. No prob posting them to you.

Squirrelsoilder

I'm working on red (Sciurus vulgaris) and grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) but I'm concentrating on getting grey squirrel samples as very little is known genetically about them in Ireland. More research has been carried out on the reds.

The grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) originally came from North America when colonisers brought them back to Europe to put in their garden estates. I would suspect the grey population are genetically fairly similar as they may have bred from only a few founder species. That’s why its good to get samples from all over the country to see if any geographic variation exists.

I would gladly help you out, but to be honest, I haven't seen any squirrels in my neck of the woods i.e. West Cork. If I do come across any you are welcome to them/samples etc. No prob posting them to you.

West Cork and South Waterford still have plenty of reds. I suppose its only a matter of time before the greys get in there too. There is a good population of reds round Glengariff.

Gosh, I took pictures of a two grey squirrels just outside the LTP yesterday

Btw, where is LTP?

.
I realise a few people hunt the greys as they are pests so thats why I'm looking for a tuft of hair off them. The grey squirrel can destroy native tree plantations as they strip the barks.

I wouldn't recommend trying to pull a tuft of hair off an unsuspecting squirrel They have a fine set of sharp teeth!

meathstevie

There's a few in the Athboy Gunclub vermin freezer...you're welcome to a few samples from them. Just let me know how you want the samples and where you want them sent to.

jwshooter

think thats reason to shoot the one that eats of the bird table .
you say you only want the tail ,might use the 110 gr v max in the 270 so

Squirrelsoilder

think thats reason to shoot the one that eats of the bird table .
you say you only want the tail ,might use the 110 gr v max in the 270 so

Well, as long as your sure its a grey squirrel and not a red as the reds are protected. I'm not going to encourage you, but if the little fella happens to be involved in an accident I would be interested in a few hairs from the tail

Trojan911

jwshooter wrote: »

you say you only want the tail ,might use the 110 gr v max in the 270 so

:D I think he missed the pun there :D

brieny1000

Trojan911 wrote: »

I haven't seen any squirrels in my neck of the woods i.e. West Cork.
lets hope it stays this way. i heard this morning a red was spotted around our rearing pens during the week. also in west cork

Squirrelsoilder

i heard this morning a red was spotted around our rearing pens during the week. also in west cork

Well, good to hear!

fish slapped

jwshooter wrote: »

think thats reason to shoot the one that eats of the bird table .
you say you only want the tail ,might use the 110 gr v max in the 270 so

JW, you wont even need the gun just throw the round at him !!!:D:D

Callow Man

This info wont be much good from a genetics point of view but when I was in national school back in the early 90's our teacher who was a nature nut(no pun intended) captured a grey squirrel that was in his back yard. It was at the time registered as the first grey squirrel ever sighted or captured west of the river shannon, this was a fairly big deal at the time. He brought him to school and kept him in a perspex box in the classroom and we all took turns feeding him on a daily basis. The squirrel died after a few weeks and I cant remember if he had him stuffed or not but he stank the place out of it for a few days after he died. Anyway before I rave on any more I have never heard of or have spotted a grey squirrel this side of the shannon since.:rolleyes:

kerryman12

Hi Squirrelsoilder

Could you give us, broadly speaking a indication of the parts of the country with a grey squirrel problem and those parts of the country free from the greys?

Terrier

The Irish Squirrel Survey 2007 will give you all those details. (page 18 for the map)

http://www.coford.ie/iopen24/pub/irishsquirrelsurvey2007revised.pdf

Callow Man

Terrier wrote: »

The Irish Squirrel Survey 2007 will give you all those details. (page 18 for the map)

http://www.coford.ie/iopen24/pub/irishsquirrelsurvey2007revised.pdf

Cheers terrier very interesting link. Looks like all the real Irish natives still live our side of the shannon.:D

Vegeta

Holy Crap I saw a grey west of the Shannon in September '08, makes me feel kind of special

I also saw a red about 2 weeks later.

Squirrelsoilder

Holy Crap I saw a grey west of the Shannon in September '08, makes me feel kind of special

I also saw a red about 2 weeks later.

I have heard other people give sightings of greys west of the Shannon, it looks like even the mighty Shannon isn't big enough a barrier for the little buggers. Apparantly, the lack of native woodland helps keep the grey at bay in the west.

This info wont be much good from a genetics point of view but when I was in national school back in the early 90's our teacher who was a nature nut(no pun intended) captured a grey squirrel that was in his back yard. It was at the time registered as the first grey squirrel ever sighted or captured west of the river shannon, this was a fairly big deal at the time. He brought him to school and kept him in a perspex box in the classroom and we all took turns feeding him on a daily basis. The squirrel died after a few weeks and I cant remember if he had him stuffed or not but he stank the place out of it for a few days after he died. Anyway before I rave on any more I have never heard of or have spotted a grey squirrel this side of the shannon since.

Conservation starting at a young age!:)

Thumbs up Terrier for posting the coford report;)

Squirrelsoilder

carey et al 2007

Well done Terrier

Callow Man

Vegeta wrote: »

Holy Crap I saw a grey west of the Shannon in September '08, makes me feel kind of special

I also saw a red about 2 weeks later.

That one in Roscommon died late last year:D

Deer Hunter DL

any grey squirrels in donegal does anyone know ? i don`t think there is but i could be wrong

foxshooter243

Deer Hunter DL wrote: »

any grey squirrels in donegal does anyone know ? i don`t think there is be i could be wrong

There has been sightings of grey squirrels reported by birdwatchers in forestry and woodland between Buncrana and Muff, a local taxidermist has
shown pictures of a grey squirrel that he took in his garden, he tried to trap him but was not successful. i havent seen them myself tbh.

Squirrelsoilder

A few of the lads were kind enough to supply some grey squirrel hair a few months back. Just wondering if any of ye know of a few places where there might be a few greys lurking in freezers and if I could have a few hairs from them for DNA work.

jwshooter

i killed one on the bike the other eve by accident it ran across me ,the little fecker almost had he in the ditch.

il pluck a few hairs of him this eve if i get out.

foxhunter

Squirrelsoilder wrote: »

A few of the lads were kind enough to supply some grey squirrel hair a few months back. Just wondering if any of ye know of a few places where there might be a few greys lurking in freezers and if I could have a few hairs from them for DNA work.

I'd say most taxidermists would have some knocking around.
Try eireshot on here he may be able to help.

Squirrelsoilder

Thanks lads. I just sent a pm to Eireshot. Thanks for the heads up on that!

Squirrelsoilder

jwshooter wrote: »

i killed one on the bike the other eve by accident it ran across me ,the little fecker almost had he in the ditch.

il pluck a few hairs of him this eve if i get out.

Where was it you saw that squirrel?

J.R.

Squirrelsoilder wrote: »

Thanks lads. I just sent a pm to Eireshot. Thanks for the heads up on that!

How long does the DNA remain usable after death?

I have 2 stuffed grey squirrels (done about a year) if you want some hair or is the DNA 'dead' after a period of time?

like to hunt

i have sample for u..
he was from a tree co . wexford
where do i send

Squirrelsoilder

J.R. wrote: »

How long does the DNA remain usable after death?

I have 2 stuffed grey squirrels (done about a year) if you want some hair or is the DNA 'dead' after a period of time?

The DNA is destroyed during the curing process so unfortunatly the stuffed squirrels are of no use. However, if they weren't treated with any chemicals DNA can last a very long time. They even get useable DNA from museum specimens.

Squirrelsoilder

like to hunt wrote: »

i have sample for u..
he was from a tree co . wexford
where do i send

I've pm'ed the details
Cheers

jwshooter

i have some tail hair for you

crowsnightmare

PM me with details of where you want hair sent to. It will give me an excuse to go for a walk over the weekend & get some fresh meat for the BBQ.

Squirrelsoilder

crowsnightmare wrote: »

PM me with details of where you want hair sent to. It will give me an excuse to go for a walk over the weekend & get some fresh meat for the BBQ.

Good job! Check your mail

BTW are greys good to BBQ?

meathstevie

Maybe a touch unconventional but the back and hindquarters are gorgeous bits of meat. It's a bit like a nicer version of grazer rabbit.