Native allies: Pine martens helping Ireland’s red squirrels fight back

A study conducted by researchers at NUI Galway and the University of Aberdeen found that red squirrels increase their numbers significantly within five years of pine marten population recovery

Pine martens' fortunes changed after being granted legal protection under the Wildlife Act of 1976 and following reforestation efforts. Populations began to recover, particularly in the midlands, west, and parts of Northern Ireland. Counties such as Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, and Galway have seen significant increases in pine marten sightings.

In Ireland’s forests, an ecological interaction is helping to restore balance to an ecosystem disrupted by invasive species. The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), once pushed to the brink of local extinction by the introduction of grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), is making a comeback. Key to this resurgence is an unexpected ally, the pine marten (Martes martes), a native predator whose recovery is reshaping Ireland’s woodland ecology.

The Problem