![]() But grey squirrels and pine martens have co-existed in the same place for a mere blink of the eye. Red squirrels and pine martens have shared the same evolutionary landscape for millennia – we would expect them to be aware of each other. In hindsight though, their behaviour isn’t surprising. ![]() In some cases, grey squirrel visits to feeding stations actually increased while their vigilance decreased around pine marten scent.įailing to recognise the scent of a predator as a threat leaves the grey squirrels vulnerable. Meanwhile, the greys continued as if nothing had changed. Reds visited feeders less, fed for shorter periods of time and were more vigilant – standing on their hind legs with their head upright and tail twitching from side to side. Will Howe/ShutterstockĮmerging red-eyed from our lab, we realised that red squirrels showed a clear fear response to pine marten scent while greys didn’t. Grey squirrels didn’t register a threat when in sniffing distance of pine marten scent. The results are published in Royal Society Open Science. We repeated the experiment at 20 different locations across Northern Ireland, amassing more than 8,000 minutes of squirrel footage. Could the grey squirrel, an animal not native to Britain or Ireland, be naive to the risk posed by the pine marten?Īrmed with camera traps, squirrel feeders and a solution of pine marten poo, we set out to find out if this was the case. By eavesdropping on these chemical signals, prey species can alter their behaviour and avoid predators, increasing their chances of survival. Predators use scent cues to mark territories and communicate with one another, but prey animals have evolved behavioural responses to these scent cues. One way that prey species avoid predators is with chemical signals. Why the pine marten is not every red squirrel's best friend So it’s probably not the preferences of pine martens that lead them to eat more grey squirrels, but the availability of the squirrels themselves. We know pine martens are opportunistic omnivores, switching food throughout the year and consuming whatever is available. Researchers sifting through masses of pine marten faeces demonstrated that pine martens eat both squirrel species, but they tend to eat more grey than red squirrels. In parts of Ireland and Scotland where this native predator has recovered, there have been subsequent declines in grey squirrel populations, allowing reds to recover. But in recent years, it has started to reclaim some of its former range. Until recently, the European pine marten was a little-known member of the weasel family that lives in trees and is restricted within the British Isles to the northern reaches of Scotland and the western coast of Ireland. Almost all attempts to counter historic blunders with grey squirrels have been met with limited success, but it would seem that nature already has a solution. Since their introduction, grey squirrels have replaced the native red squirrel across much of its former range, mainly by transmitting squirrel pox to reds, a deadly virus to which greys are immune. The North American grey squirrel is one such invasive species that was brought to Britain and Ireland during the 19th and 20th centuries. But by introducing invasive species to ecosystems in which they did not evolve, we’ve unwittingly created problems that we now spend a great deal of effort and resources trying to rectify. ![]() It is not possible to distinguish between red and grey squirrel dreys.For as long as modern humans have been moving around the planet, we’ve been bringing animals, plants and microorganisms with us. It is easier to observe these in winter when there are fewer leaves on the trees. 30cm across, at least 6m above the ground) of twigs and leaves which are usually located in the fork of the branches, close to the trunk. Nests: The nests of red squirrel (and grey squirrel) are known as dreys. By comparison, mice and voles gnaw holes in nuts in a characteristic pattern. They prise the nut apart after making an incision at the top. They are small, round pellet shapes (0.5-0.8cm long and 0.5cm thick).įeeding signs: Squirrels, much like birds, split nuts open at the top, leaving jagged edges and irregular pieces. This does depend on their diet, especially true if diet includes pine cones. They can be dark grey or black and are often sweet smelling. Forefoot width is 2.5cm and length 3.5cm and hind foot width is 3.5cm and length 4.5cm.ĭroppings: Droppings are usually found near trees. Can have red tinge to fur.ĭownload a printable field sign guide here!įootprints: Tracks can be seen in mud (see photo), sand and snow. Silver/grey, agouti (speckled) coat, with a brownish tinge on feet, face and along the back, especially in summer.
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