Northern Ireland Squirrel Forum
What it is all about
The Northern Ireland Squirrel Forum (NISF) was established to bring together statutory and non-statutory organisations as well as representatives of country parks and local volunteer organisations dedicated to protecting the red squirrel in Northern Ireland. The NISF is chaired by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and includes representatives from:
- Belfast Zoo
- Colin Glen Forest Park
- Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)
- Forest Service Northern Ireland
- Lagan Valley Regional Park
- National Trust
- Quercus (Queens University)
- Trinity College Dublin
- Ulster Wildlife Trust
- Woodland Trust
- in 2009 we aim to invite representation from local squirrel groups onto the forum.
The NISF provides an opportunity for the members of the group to feedback details of news, exchange ideas, new research findings, best practice on how to help conserve red and control grey squirrels.
The NISF feeds into the UK Red Squirrel Group and has a representative on this group.
The NISF last met on 26 May 2010.
The problem
The red squirrel population in Ireland is in decline, its future in Northern Ireland is under serious threat. While there is no one reason why the reds have suffered such heavy losses in Northern Ireland, three main factors are evident across the UK and they are all linked:
- Habitat loss
- Grey squirrel competition
- Squirrel pox disease
The key is the spread of the grey squirrel because the greys can thrive in conditions that would be tough going for red squirrels. Therefore where habitat is lost to development or agriculture the greys can continue to live in parks, gardens and hedgerows. Reds struggle in these lesser habitats. Greys can eat seeds and nuts that are not ripe enough for the reds to digest so they get the food first. The greys carry a disease that does not appear to cause them too much harm but it can be passed to our native reds. Unfortunately our reds will die if they catch it.
How can I help?
If you have grey squirrels entering your garden do not feed them!!! Make sure any bird feeders are squirrel proofed.
If you are lucky enough to have red squirrels in your garden and they are feeding on bird feeders you should disinfect all your equipment regularly by using a household detergent followed by a soak in a 10-15% bleach solution for at least 15 minutes and then rinse in cold water. This is good practice even if you don’t have squirrels as diseases can spread between birds and other wildlife at feeding stations.
If you have a very large garden or farmland which has tree cover and there are grey squirrels living there you should consider some control measures – please contact the NIEA for further advice. jon.lees@doeni.gov.uk
Encourage your local authority to undertake grey squirrel management within their parks and open spaces. These places offer breeding sites for the greys which then spread out to surrounding areas.
Join and support your local squirrel group, if there are red squirrels near where you live and there is no established group why not start one? – (we can help)
Contact your local biodiversity officer for information on red squirrel initiatives in your area. Some of them are already recording both red and grey squirrels as part of their action plans.
Antrim Borough Council (.PDF 185Kb)
Larne Borough Council (.PDF 154Kb)
Moyle District Council (.PDF 153Kb)
Newtownabbey Borough Council (.PDF408Kb)
Newtownabbey Borough Council 2 (.PDF 292Kb)
Lagan Valley Red Squirrel Group (.PDF 1.3Mb)
Record your sightings of red squirrels and where greys are new to your area record them as well.
Go to the CEDaR website and let them know where you saw either reds or greys.
