Squirrels @ School

Welcome
This is the home page of the Squirrels @ School survey, as publicised in the Red Squirrels in Ireland Biodiversity & Conservation Activity Pack. The pack was sponsored by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Background
The pack was published in conjunction with the Forest Service-funded CRISIS project (Combined Research and Inventory of Squirrels in Irish Silviculture - CRISIS). This project is aimed at securing Ireland's broadleaf forests and the conservation of native red squirrels through the integrated management of grey squirrels.

Squirrels in Ireland
There are two species of squirrels in Ireland, our native red squirrel and the introduced North American grey squirrel. Red squirrels are in danger in Ireland due to competition from grey squirrels. Therefore, it is very important that accurate records are kept. Over a period of time these records can be compared. This allows scientists to find out how well the squirrels are surviving. Because grey squirrels are the biggest threat to red squirrels, it is important to collect records of both. By keeping records you can help the red squirrel survive.

Squirrels at School

Squirrels at School

Spot the difference
Telling the two species of squirrel apart isn't always easy. Here are some tips:

* The fur of red squirrels can range from almost black to bright orange. Grey squirrels appear mostly grey, but can have a chestnut-coloured streak along their flanks. Both have white chests and stomachs.
* Grey squirrels tend to be about one-third bigger than red squirrels.
* Red squirrels develop long protruding ear tufts during the winter. Grey squirrels never have these ear tufts. Red squirrel tails are also sometimes seen to appear bleached at the tip.
* You are more likely to see red squirrels in the branches of a tree when compared to grey squirrels which spend more time foraging on the ground. Red squirrels are also more often found in conifer forests.

Report a sighting
If you see a squirrel we would be delighted if you could tell us its location by either marking it on a map (click on Submit your sighting at the top), or send an email to squirrels[at]biology.ie (just use @ instead of [at]).

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