Red Squirrels spotted in Kilteevan

Red Squirrel ,  Sciurus vulgaris,     Iora Rua

It has been bought to our attention that two Red Squirrels were spotted in birch scrub in Kilteevan on September 29^th 2015.  This is good news about these small native mammals.

Distribution

Red squirrels have a widespread but patchy distribution throughout Ireland, which is limited to forested areas. Red squirrels continue to disappear from forests where the grey squirrels have been present for a long time, in particular large parts of Counties Leitrim, Cavan, Louth, Westmeath, Meath and Dublin In the midlands they have been largely out competed for habitats by the grey squirrel, especially in mixed and broadleaf woodlands.

Grey squirrels are non-native and were introduced into Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century. Greys continue to spread to the northwest and southwest, but moves to the west of Ireland have been halted by unsuitable terrain, with the River Shannon delineating the western extreme of their distribution.

Nests

Squirrels nest in dreys. These are round structures built of sticks and foliage against the trunks of trees. Dreys can also be built in hollows in trees, or within heavy ivy.

Diet

Red squirrels are largely vegetarian feeding on a wide selection of fruits, seeds and berries .  They will consume large daily quantities of pine and spruce seeds, acorns, berries, fungi, tree sap and bark depending on their seasonal availability. in order to fuel their high metabolic rates they must consume up to 5% of their body weight each day in food.They forage all night in summer while restricting feeding periods until the early morning in late autumn and in winter.

Red squirrels will bury collected nuts and seeds when they are plentiful in the autumn in numerous hoards which are shallow pits dug in soft ground in case the forthcoming winter is excessively cold. Red squirrels do not hibernate but can remain in their nests for several days if the weather conditions are bad, making only quick trips to a nearby hoard can sustain a red squirrel for up to three months. They spend most of their active periods in tree canopies.

Life Cycle

Following a gestation period of five to six weeks, the female gives birth to a litter of one to six kittens, with three being the usual litter size. The young are born blind and naked, and are not fully weaned until approximately seven to ten weeks after birth.Though they are born blind they deveop excellent eyesight with a wide angle of vision and a sharp focus which allows for rapid movement within the tree canopy while foraging.

 On average Irish red squirrels live up to 3 years in the wild but females generally out live males and can reach up to 6 years of age.

 Disease

The recently discovered presence of squirrel pox virus, a disease posibly carried by grey squirrels and fatal to reds, further threatens their future in Ireland.

 Conservation

Red squirrel's habit of hoarding stores of nuts and seeds are important to the ecosystem of forests as this activity spreads tree seeds over large areas at the vital time of Autumn. 

Protection

The importance of this native squirrel species is reflected in its protection under Irish legislation and international conventions. The red squirrel is protected under the Wildlife Act (1976) and Wildlife (Amendment) Acts (2000 & 2010)and the Bern Convention (Appendix III)

Reporting sightings of both red and grey squirrel is important so that researching groups can become of aware approximately how may species of squirrel there are in the area.