Proactive reintro of Red Squirrels

Clearpreso

In an act of supreme coincidence I had been thinking to myself last night that it might be an idea to try actively breeding and reintroducing red squirrels in areas and trapping greys. I'm sure I'm not the first, and maybe it is a controversial view.

I emailed a friend about it last night and he said that he had actually just attended a DLRCOCO meeting where they have agreed to do (almost) just that! They won't be breeding them in captivity but rather moving a few up from Wicklow I think.

Here was the website for the meeting I missed :-(

http://www.dlrcoco.ie/newsevents/latestnews/title,8338,en.html

What do you all think of such an initiative?

kildare.17hmr

Good to see! I have not seen many squirels round my way but iv shot 1 grey and my da has shot 2 all in the last few weeks. See more of them in public parks tho and i reckon the rangers in the pheonix park should be trapping / shooting the greys there

kylith

The grey definitely need to be culled. I'd support anywhere selling the meat, I've heard it's quite good.

Given the way we've managed to wipe out so many species on this island, with much less efficient weapons, you wouldn't think one measly rodent would cause so much hassle.

robp

The NPWS are trying something like this in very remote conifer forests in the west particularly Mayo. Apparently its generally successful.

Another strategy is to identify very healthy populations that can be designated as Red squirrel fortresses where Greys advances can be resisted. Raven Point down in Wexford has won such a designation.

Their really going for places where culling isn't necessary.

wildlifeboy

apparently they havent got across the shannon. the aarea is a woods just north of balina where an active reintroduction programme is ongoing. it was highlighted in living the wild with colin stafford johnson a few years back. its in beleek woods. i am sure you can get it on the rte player.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/livingthewildlife/series2episode2.html

Alun

There was a piece on Mooney on Radio 1this afternoon on the Killiney reintroduction.

http://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/rteradiowebpage.html#!rii=9%3A3353942%3A82%3A27-07-2012%3A

Listen from about 1:21 onwards.

Ape Owners

local paper a while back. draw your own conclusions...

Desmo

I had not seen a red sq. in Ireland for a while until a few weeks ago when we were out driving through Knockree (betw. Enniskerry and Glencree) and we almost ran one over as it ran across the road. I was pleasantly surprised as I had assumed they were in big trouble. I have also heard stories about how Pine Marten recovery is being linked to Grey Sq. being pushed back as they spend more time on the ground where PMs get them.

Anyway, it is good to hear they are still around and that DLRCoCo want to help.

Des

mecksimay

There is currently a squirrel survey being undertaken.

Looking for sightings of live/dead red and/or grey squirrels and pine martens from all parts of the country.

See http://www.woodlandmammals.com/page.php?id=5

dodderangler

I've spotted some down in the dodder in past month

kildare.17hmr

dodderangler wrote: »

I've spotted some down in the dodder in past month

Red or gray?

dodderangler

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

dodderangler wrote: »

I've spotted some down in the dodder in past month

Red or gray?

Red squirrels
I used to hunt there with the Harris hawk
I won't be now as there's reds
Lovely to watch and a lot faster than the greys
There's a wooded area I hunt beside that years ago had both reds and greys but lately it's all greys I'm seen

kildare.17hmr

Hammer the **** out of the grays if ya can lad

dodderangler

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

Hammer the **** out of the grays if ya can lad

Trust me the Harris will take a grey no problem
I just don't want to bring her there until I'm sure the reds are gone cuz don't want her takin a red squirrel
Might just go up with the shotty tho

OldRio

I have seen reds on two separate occasions in the last week in County Leitrim.
Very unusual to see them. Never seen a grey here.
Wonderful and long may it continue.