All-Ireland survey launches to help track squirrels and pine martens - Ulster Wildlife

To mark Red Squirrel Appreciation Day, the 2026 All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey launches today (21 January 2026), calling on people across the island to help track three of our most iconic woodland mammals.

Led by researchers from the University of Galway, Ulster Wildlife, and the Vincent Wildlife Trust, the survey aims to map the latest distribution of red and grey squirrels, as well as the pine marten, across the island of Ireland.

Members of the public are invited to record their sightings of the three species throughout 2026, helping researchers build a detailed picture of how their populations are changing.

The 2026 survey is being delivered with the support of the National Biodiversity Data Centre in the Republic of Ireland and CEDaR in Northern Ireland.

The survey is part of a long-running monitoring programme, with previous surveys carried out on four occasions since 1997, providing vital insights into long-term trends and conservation success.

For many years, the future of the red squirrel looked bleak. However, recent surveys have revealed a remarkable and unexpected turnaround, with the grey squirrel being knocked back in certain areas, and the reds showing signs of recovery. In several regions, grey squirrel numbers have declined sharply, while red squirrels are showing encouraging signs of recovery.

Research linked this shift to the successful comeback of another native species, the pine marten, a tree-dwelling carnivore and one of the few predators that can successfully hunt grey squirrels. Because the red squirrel evolved alongside pine martens, they are better adapted to avoiding them and can escape danger more easily.