Northern Ireland

Squirrel Forum:

developing local squirrel

heroes

Dr Jon Lees

NIEA Wildlife

Officer

◼ The Northern Ireland Squirrel Forum (NISF) was established to bring together statutory & 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 DAERA Northern Ireland Environment Agency and includes representatives from:

◼ DAERA Forest Service Northern Ireland

◼ Belfast Zoo

◼ National Trust

◼ Mourne Heritage Trust

◼ Queens University

◼ NUI Galway

◼ Ulster Wildlife

◼ BASC

◼ SACS

◼ Representation from local squirrel groups

◼ Representation from private landowners.

◼ Biodiversity officers from across NI

Current targets◼ To promote the Red Squirrel.

◼ Promote the control of grey squirrels.

◼ To development community level red squirrel support groups across NI.

◼ To development management practises for the Forest Service Red Squirrel Preferred Areas (FSRSQPA).

◼ To control grey squirrels in red squirrel hotspots.

◼ To establish best practise for red sqconservation and grey control.

◼ Support the work of the ‘Red Squirrels United Project’.

◼ Expand the trap loan scheme.

What can you do?

❖ We can supplement red squirrel diets during lean periods.

❖ Secure bird feeders against greys.

❖ Report new sightings of reds & greys

❖ Report red squirrel road deaths

❖ If you live near reds put a bell on your cats collar.

❖ Don’t encourage your dog to chase them! (the reds that is...)

❖ We can reduce the numbers of

greys in the locality of any reds.

❖ Education - spread the word...

FSRSqPA - or work where you

have volunteers?

2008/9 FS ran a model

looking at the available

habitat and red squirrels and

identified 6 areas under their

ownership which had

defendable red squirrel

populations.

Our volunteer base does not

necessarily fit the model

This does not account for

land outside FS estate

• In 2009 there

were just 3 RSGs

in NI.

• By the start of the

Red Squirrels

United there were

9 groups & 1 NGO

project.

◼ Currently there

are 13 groups

& 1 NGO

project.

◼ There is room

for a few more

grey control

groups.

A group’s needs

Expenses

£ Insurance

£ Equipment

£ PPE

£ Consumables

☺ People!

☺ Leaders – local

champions

☺ Training

☺ Permissions to

operate

☺ Clear achievable

goals

☺ Encouragement

☺ Support

☺ Cohesion

☺ WhatsApp!

Professional input?

• Risk assessments

• Links to others

• Social media

exposure

• Permissions

Having enough people to not suffer from

fatigue.

◼ If there is too much pressure on volunteers they will

give up.

◼ If they have to travel too far it will cost them too much

money and time.

◼ Don’t over stretch yourselves from the start.

◼ Achievable goals.

◼ Take a break and evaluate results.

◼ Seek their opinions and input.

◼ Of course there will be some ‘Super volunteers’ who

give it all and more, but they are few and far between.

If they go, the house of cards can come tumbling down.

◼ Having enough to do to keep them interested!

Roles◼ Maintain a range of roles for all ages and

abilities – parents are more likely to stay

engaged if their children feel included.

◼ Remember not all members will want to control

grey squirrels.

◼ REM. members have existing skills and local

knowledge.

◼ Maintaining websites/social media and

monitoring camera trap footage can done by

those less able to do the more physical tasks.

◼ BSc/MSc student’s projects can be a temporary

source of data that helps legitimise your work.

Partnerships◼ Not everyone is comfortable dispatching a

grey squirrel and that’s understandable.

◼ We have partnerships with the British

Association for Shooting & Conservation

(BASC) and the Scottish Association for

Country Sports (NI) (SACS NI) where they

match members with full insurance to provide

a ‘pest control service’ to landowners.

Funding Options◼ Community groups can attract start up funding

from local authorities. This can cover insurance

and some initial equipment.

◼ Team up with established community groups

who may want to diversify.

◼ The Conservation Volunteers TCV – Community

Network, a source of experience & insurance.

◼ Local schools/FE colleges/HM Prisons or ‘Men’s

sheds’ can be a source of skills for constructing

feeders or building websites etc

◼ Don’t operate from a silo, build bridges with your

neighbouring RSG or other eNGOs.

Centralised recordshttp://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/squirrels

Squirrel Pox – knowing your local

squirrels◼ Viral disease.

◼ Myxomatosis-like symptoms.

◼ Fatal to reds, greys are asymptomatic.

◼ Multiple transmission routes - parasites

play a role.

◼ First reported in Ireland at Tollymore Co.

Down March 2011 & at Glenarm co.

Antrim June/July 2011

◼ Outbreaks in RoI 2012

◼ Garron Co. Antrim 2015

◼ Further outbreaks in Glenarm 2016

◼ Tollymore March 2016-9 ongoing!

◼ Report sightings of sick reds.

Road traffic accidents◼ Report incidents

◼ Location, road name, number eg. A4, grid ref.

◼ Road signs not available.

◼ Rope bridges in regular trouble spots may be an option? Subject to safety inspection and insurance?

◼ Requires DfI Roads Service permission if crossing public highways?

Contact:◼ Dr. Jon Lees

◼ The NIEA Wildlife Team, BCS

◼ 2nd Flr Klondyke Building

◼ Cromac Ave, The Gasworks Business Park

◼ Malone Lower, BELFAST BT7 2JA

◼ Tel: 028 905 69551◼ Squirrels@daera-ni.gov.uk

◼ Jon.Lees@daera-ni.gov.uk

◼ DAERA website and search for NISF or Squirrels