Irish Mammals At Risk - Red List

[C. Flower]

A new Red List of Irish terrestrial mammals was published in 2009 and all 26 terrestrial species native to Ireland, or naturalised in Ireland before 1500, were assessed. Of these, one was found to be regionally extinct (grey wolf Canis lupus), one achieved a threat status of Vulnerable (black rat Rattus rattus), three were found to be Near Threatened (Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri), otter (Lutra lutra) and red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)), one was data deficient (Brandt’s bat Myotis brandtii) and the remaining 20 were of least concern.[1] (http://www.politicalworld.org/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=21#cite_note-0)

I see otters often, and I have seen a Leisler's bat (but only a dead one). Never a red squirrel. Otter populations are vulnerable to anything that effects water quality, chemicals that accumulate in fish and nets.

Ireland has only a small number of mammal species - 26 - but some of them are endangered - Daubenkin's Bat, the Otter and the red squirrel are all on the "Red List" as engangered.

European Red List of Endangered Species

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/


http://www.npws.ie/en/media/NPWS/Publications/Redlists/Red%20List%203%20Terrestrial%20Mammals.pdf

Irish mammals - National Parks and Wildlife Service

http://www.npws.ie/en/Biodiversity/IrishSpecies/Mammals/#d.en.3810

Wikipedia List of Mammals in Ireland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammals_of_Ireland

[Cassandra Syndrome]

I won't cry about the black rat.

Is Fine Gael on the danger list?!

[Lapsedmethodist]

Red squirrels alive and well in the woods around West Waterford. Otters fine along Blackwater and Bride.

[5intheface]

Plenty of reds in the glens but thay had to be re-introduced a few years ago.

Heard today a couple of buzzards were poisoned in Co. Down. Buzzards are as common as blackbirds round here now, I'm convinced they are having a big effect on the rodent population.

[Fraxinus]

I heard that the red squirrels went extinct country wide a few centuries ago and were then reintroduced. Apparently none of the present population are genetically Irish. Don't know how true that is though.

[TaxationIsTheft]

Have beavers ever lived in Ireland. Theyve recently reintroduced them back to Scotland. It would be cool to see them here.

[Fraxinus]

Have beavers ever lived in Ireland. Theyve recently reintroduced them back to Scotland. It would be cool to see them here.

Good question, I don't know the answer though. The brown bear did for a while.

[C. Flower]

Our squirrel thread is quite encouraging, but elsewhere, lemurs are in trouble and have been added to the Red List.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18825901

[C. Flower]

one achieved a threat status of Vulnerable (black rat Rattus rattus),

Who'd have thunk it ?

[Yojimbo]

I heard that the red squirrels went extinct country wide a few centuries ago and were then reintroduced. Apparently none of the present population are genetically Irish. Don't know how true that is though.

No, this isn't true so far as I know. Whats been happening is that they've been taking red squirrels from threatened areas and establishing them in parts of Galway and Mayo. They theory is that the woodlands there are suitable, but are quite fragmented so the grey squirrel is unlikely to make it over. Its hoped that they will survive there in the event of being driven extinct in the east and south of the country.

[eamo]

No, this isn't true so far as I know. Whats been happening is that they've been taking red squirrels from threatened areas and establishing them in parts of Galway and Mayo. They theory is that the woodlands there are suitable, but are quite fragmented so the grey squirrel is unlikely to make it over. Its hoped that they will survive there in the event of being driven extinct in the east and south of the country.

Some details here about translocating red squirrels in Ireland:


http://www.npws.ie/publications/archive/IWM51.pdf


and from that, seems the red may have gone extinct during the ice age. But even if that is true they have been here a hell of a lot longer than the greys.

The red squirrel is believed to have been a member of Ireland’s fauna since prehistoric times but may
have gone extinct during the ice age about 10,500 years ago becoming re-established in the postglacial
period. Suitable habitats developed by about 9000 years ago (Hayden & Harrington 2000). However,
Ireland was isolated from Britain by then, so it is not clear whether it colonised naturally or was introduced.

[Priz]

I see the Irish Times ran a story recently titled "Council rows back from residential zoning plan due to concerns over bats"

The story continued

"Clare County Council is not to proceed with contentious housing zoning due to concerns over a roost of rare and protected lesser horseshoe bats.
This follows Minister of State for the Environment Jan O’Sullivan making the unprecedented move of issuing a “notice of intent” directing the council to change the zoning for land near the village of Quin from residential to open space.
At the council’s June meeting, members defied legal advice and their county manager by allowing an area to be zoned for housing beside an internationally important site for the lesser horseshoe bat.
The lesser horseshoe bat is one of the world’s smallest with a wingspan of 194-254mm and a body length of 35-45mm. It is afforded protection through the EU habitats directive."