Red Squirrel Awareness Week

Celebrate Red Squirrel Awareness Week by sharing your woodland wildlife sightings!

Red Squirrel Awareness Week (5–11 October 2026) is a special chance to celebrate Ireland’s much-loved native red squirrel. And what better way to celebrate than helping researchers from University of Galway, Ulster Wildlife and Vincent Wildlife Trust better understand their distribution.

The 2026 All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey is running throughout the year and Red Squirrel Awareness Week provides a special opportunity to encourage even more people to get involved by reporting their red squirrel, grey squirrel and pine marten sightings. 

Your sightings will help researchers build a clearer picture of where these three woodland mammals occur and how their distributions are changing over time. Every sighting counts!

Why red squirrels matter

The red squirrel is Ireland’s only native squirrel species and plays an important role in woodland ecosystems. By gathering and storing nuts and seeds, red squirrels help disperse seeds and support natural woodland regeneration. Their presence is also an important indicator of healthy, connected woodland habitat.
However, habitat loss and the introduction of the invasive, non-native grey squirrel have contributed to significant declines in red squirrel populations. Grey squirrels are able to compete more effectively for food and can carry Squirrelpox virus without showing symptoms. When transmitted to red squirrels, the virus can cause serious illness and is often fatal.

A native ally — the pine marten

The recovery of Ireland’s native pine marten population offers renewed hope for red squirrels. Citizen science surveys undertaken in 2012 and 2019 suggested that grey squirrel numbers declined in some areas where pine martens had returned, creating opportunities for red squirrel populations to recover.

Red squirrels evolved alongside pine martens and are better adapted than grey squirrels to avoid this native predator. The 2026 survey will help determine whether these encouraging trends are continuing and provide insights into how the distributions of all three species are changing. Continued monitoring is essential to inform future conservation efforts and better understand the relationship between these woodland mammals.

How to report a sighting

• People are encouraged to report sightings of red squirrels, grey squirrels and pine martens throughout 2026.
  
  In the Republic of Ireland: Use the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s survey form.
  
  In Northern Ireland: Use the Ulster Wildlife Recording Form

“Red Squirrel Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate one of Ireland’s best-loved native mammals. By reporting a red squirrel, grey squirrel or pine marten, you can turn a memorable wildlife encounter into useful evidence for conservation,” said Vicky Knight, Species Conservation Officer at Vincent Wildlife Trust.
“Working with the public is a wonderful way for us to map the distribution of our native wildlife species. We can cover every forest and park in Ireland with the help of our Citizen Scientists,” said Dr Colin Lawton from the University of Galway.

This Red Squirrel Awareness Week, keep an eye out, and report what you see.