Cat Crainn

In Irish, a pine marten – such as the one shown on the left – is cat crainn which means literally “cat of the tree” or, less clumsily, “tree cat”. The word for “tree” in the nominative case is crann and the genitive meaning “of the tree” is crainn. They are about the size of a domestic cat.

I mention the pine marten partly because a while ago it came up on Bitesize Irish, which is a way I’m trying to add to my meagre vocabulary of Irish words and phrases, and partly because the story of these animals is quite fascinating. Pine martens have existed in Ireland for thousands of years alongside native red squirrels whose habitat is similar. More recently the invasive grey squirrels arrived and bullied their smaller red cousins into decline. Pine martens were also in serious decline because of hunting and deforestation and were critically endangered until recently, when legal protections were introduced. Now the population is growing and they are spreading into new areas.

Pine martens are fierce predators who eat all kinds of small mammals including rats and voles as well as squirrels. Having coexisted with them for ages, red squirrels have learnt to avoid pine martens quite effectively. Pine martens will try to catch them but don’t find them easy prey. Grey squirrels are a different matter, though, so there has been a big difference in the rate of predation with the grey squirrels being forced out of many areas. This differential effect has been excellent news for the red squirrels, whose population is recovering strongly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIt_7pSC2wE

I’m told that there are pine martens on the campus at Maynooth, though I have never actually seen one in the flesh and am not sure where they live. This is not surprising – they are secretive and good at hiding. There are grey squirrels on Maynooth campus too. I have seen many. I’ve never seen any red squirrels though. If the pine martens thrive, perhaps that will change?

Although undeniably cute, with their choclate-coloured coat and creamy yellow bib, pine martens are wild animals and will bite if you give them cause. The word for “bite” in Irish is greim.

2 baby red #squirrel kits rescued in Oban

They were found at base of tree in #Oban, Argyll and Bute, by member of public who alerted #Scottish #SPCA

It is thought that the kits may have fallen from their nest

1 of the kits were thought to have an injured leg which may have been due to the fall

The kits, which have been named Fanta & Tango, were given a course of antibiotics & remain under care

https://www.thenational.scot/news/26111460.red-squirrel-kits-recovering-found-ditch-oban/

#Scotland #RedSquirrels #wildlife #animals #rescue #nature

Urgent calls to prevent the extinction of red #squirrels

England's #RedSquirrels are close to #extinction and the government needs to do more to protect them, an animal welfare group said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwpd9d399wo #environment #nature

Wenn das bereitgestellte Buffet nicht genehm ist, muss die Bestellung direkt beim Human aufgegeben werden.

Sie hatte Schüssel mit Haselnüssen und Walnüsse zur Verfügung, aber die Sonnenblumenkern hatte sie heute morgen schon leer gefuttert. Wie gut wenn man grad da ist und auf das Problem aufmerksam gemacht wird.

#eichhoernchen #redsquirrels #eichhornchencontent

"The release of Little Red adds to a wider conversation about the enforcement of conservation laws in England. The petition argues that red squirrel habitats, though legally protected, are still being felled or fragmented with no consequence."

https://www.petsmag.co.uk/new-childrens-book-fuels-urgent-call-to-save-englands-vanishing-red-squirrels/

#RedSquirrel #RedSquirrels #conservation #habitat #forest #forests #protectOurForests

https://www.change.org/p/save-our-red-squirrels-enforce-protections-prioritise-habitat-in-uk-woodlands

#squirrel #squirrels #redSquirrel #redSquirrels

Red Squirrel Comeback: Highland Range Expands 25% After 10-Year Rewilding Project

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.goodnewspost.co.uk/red-squirrel-comeback-highland-range-expands-25-after-10-year-rewilding-project/