Grey Squirrel Feasibility Study – Public Consultation

The grey squirrel (North American grey squirrel) is one of the most invasive species in Europe. It is listed as one of 47 invasive animal species of European Union concern. The EU’s Invasive Alien Species Regulation (Regulation (EU) 1143/2014) and the EuropeanUnion (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 374 of 2024) requires Ireland and EU member states to take action against listed species, eradicating them where feasible.

Grey squirrels still occur throughout the Dublin – Wicklow region. To address this a partnership has been formed comprising Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Wicklow County Council and NPWS, and we have commissioned a Feasibility Study on the management of grey squirrels at a landscape scale. The study aims to identify the various potential management options in the wider Dublin-Wicklow area and will follow international best practice guidelines on invasive species control and eradications, assessing criteria such as technical feasibility, sustainability, social, political, legal & environmental acceptability, affordability and capacity regarding the skills and infrastructure required.

As part of the Feasibility Study, members of the public are being asked to take part in an online survey, hosted by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, which is running from June 8th to 28th.

Dr Emma Sheehy, who has been commissioned to conduct the Feasibility Studysays: “We are encouraging anyone in the Dublin & Wicklow area who has an interest in the topic to take part in our online survey. It should only take five minutes of your time and will be fundamental in helping us to understand how people feel about red squirrels, grey squirrels and in particular, how people feel about grey squirrel control”.

Link to online survey & webpage: https://biodiversityireland.ie/grey-squirrel feasibility-study/Contacts for further information
Dr Emma Sheehy: emma@sheehyecologyservices.com
Ferdia Marnell: ferdia.marnell@npws.gov.ie