Plans to save endangered red squirrel

THE Government has changed the focus of its attention from the Celtic Tiger to the red squirrel, which is the most endangered mammal in the Irish countryside.

Latest research has shown numbers of this tiny woodland mammal are falling 1% per annum, largely due to the infestation of a non-native cousin, the larger grey squirrel.

North American grey squirrels were released in Ireland at Castle Forbes, Co Longford, in 1911 and have been colonising southwards since, driving out the more timid red species.