It is well documented that grey squirrel numbers have grown greatly since a wedding present of about a dozen greys were released onto the lawn in Castle Forbes a little over one hundred years ago.
It is also well documented that their numbers have increased at the expense of our native red squirrel.
But are we now seeing a reversal of fortunes, where the recovery of another native species - the Pine Marten - is depleting grey populations, and the reds are coming back?
Get involved
This is one of the key areas a new Citizen Science project is investigating - and you can help! Researchers from NUI Galway, Ulster Wildlife and Vincent Wildlife Trust are asking the general public to help map the current distributions of the red squirrel, grey squirrel and pine marten across the 32 counties.
Colin Lawton is a Zoologist at NUI Galway reports to Derek Mooney about previous surveys and the current 2019 survey that continues the work of tracing the fortunes of these three animals.
To learn more about the All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey, and to submit your sightings, visit www.biodiversityireland.ie.
Mooney Goes Wild presented by Derek Mooney airs Monday nights at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1. You can contact us at Mooney@rte.ie
